Relay Races bring out the best swimmers in international events
The crowd on Day 2 of the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships 2010 in Irvine, California was spectacular. Fans witnessed their favourite Rebecca Soni in the 100 metre breaststroke and Ryan Lochte in the 400 metre individual medley winning gold medals. However, the energy level of both the swimmers and the spectators was unmatched in the 4 into 200 metre freestyle relay events in both men and women categories. Fans were cheering for their favourite athletes or the team they were supporting.
In an international meet, relays play a significant role in uplifting the spirit and confidence of the swimmers. It is particularly very inspiring for the team when their country’s national anthem echoes in the stadium after they win a gold medal in the relay event. In this meet in Irvine, the home crowd was given enough opportunity to scream and cheer for the U.S. team which won 8 out of the 10 events at the championship. The spectators also waved flags proudly, displaying the colours of their home team. Canada’s symbolic red colour and Australia’s gold and green made the venue vibrant and colourful. This type of intensity in the spirit of the crowd has not been seen in any national event. The sentiment of nationalism and unity of a country’s team is only displayed to the world through these relay meets.
The bigger the event is the elevated the energy of the relay becomes. The Summer Olympics 2008 in Beijing were a spectacle to watch. However, before one can think about Michael Phelps 8 for 8 performances, audiences are compelled to think about the amazing comeback made by America’s Jason Lezak in the 4 into 100 metre freestyle relay and how the entire venue was filled with the enthusiastic American team’s supporters. It was followed by the national anthem which was followed by Phelps close victory against Milorad Cavic by one hundredth of a second. U.S. swimmers are of the view that swimming is a team sport, however much focus is placed on the individual awards and medals. The team’s spirit of the U.S. swimming team has always been intact and they have displayed it on all international events, be it the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships or the Olympic Games.
Aaron Peirsol, the Olympic champion who has won 5 gold medals in the summer Olympics said that he enjoys the relays more than any other event in international meets. He has won gold medals in the 4 into 100 metre medley relays in the Summer Olympics of 2004 and 2008. He further said that individual meets are amazing because you can enter the race and you are only responsible for your record and thus there is less pressure. However, Piersol added that when you enter the pool with three other swimmers on your back, it inculcates team spirit and the swimmer takes a lot of pride with an aim to win for their people. Swimming is not an individual sport and it is emphasized in the relay races quite brilliantly.
Rebecca Soni, the gold medal winner in the women’s 200 metre breaststroke in Beijing, confessed that she considers the U.S. team’s silver medal victory in the relay medley was equal to her victory of the gold medal in her individual meet. She said that she always loved standing at the medal podium with three other girls and share the victory like she did in the 2008 Summer Olympics. Moreover she said that it is a matter of pride to represent your country with your best counterparts in any international event.
In the 4 into 100 metre freestyle relay of the Beijing Olympics, Nathan Adrian the American athlete won the gold medal but he did not participate in the final event. He told correspondents that he always dreamt of making the final relay team at the Olympics and that is what motivates him to practise every day.
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