YourSwimLog.com

The Ultimate Log Book for Swimmers

  • YourSwimBook
  • Conquer the Pool
  • Articles
  • About
Phelps vs Cavic Documentary

Phelps vs. Cavic: Mini-Documentary on the Legendary 100m Butterfly from Beijing

The Beijing Olympics held some stunning moments in the pool. Of course, the big story through the 8-days of racing that summer in 2008 was Michael Phelps and his quest for 8 gold medals.

The 4x100m freestyle relay had been viewed to be as the biggest hurdle in going 8 for 8, but with Jason Lezak swimming a race that is so unbelievable that it still boggles the mind 8 years later, the Americans kept Phelps’ hopes alive.

While the rest of the races were not necessarily a cakewalk for Phelps he was the overwhelming favorite in the IMs, the 200 freestyle, the other two relays, and of course, the event he first qualified for the Olympics for in 2000, the 200m butterfly.

And then there was the 100m butterfly.

It was the only individual event where he wasn’t the world record holder. That distinction belonged to his American teammate, Ian Crocker.

In addition to the threat posed by Crocker, the fastest qualifier leading into finals was an American-trained Serbian named Mike (Milorad) Cavic.

In this short doc produced by Omega—who provided the timing system that would become a focal point of the outcome of the race—Phelps and Cavic are interviewed years after the race.

For those who don’t remember, Phelps came back to out-touch Cavic by the slimmest margin imaginable—one one-hundredth of a second. Cavic had been leading from the start, and looked to poise to take gold until Phelps swooped in with a half-stroke right at the finish.

phelps cavic beijing 2008
Phelps on the left, Cavic on the right

A finish that was so close the Serbian delegation lodged a formal protest, which they would eventually withdraw after FINA officials and staff manning the Omega timing equipment concluded that Phelps had indeed touched first.

“I knew I was destined for this race,” said Cavic says in the mini-documentary. Thinking back to how he felt getting up on the blocks, staring down Phelps in lane 5. “This was my moment.”

Phelps vs Cavic Documentary

“The results don’t lie,” Phelps says with a smile.

Here is the video. Enjoy:

Up Next:

  • Butterfly Sets: How to Improve Your 100m Butterfly. Michael Phelps and Bob Bowman drop a couple sets to help you develop a powerhouse back-half on your 100m butterfly.
  • How NOT to Pace Your 200 Butterfly (Video). The 200 fly is a tough event for not just us non-flyers, but can be downright painful to watch by even experienced butterflyers.
  • The Butterfly Stroke: Everything You Have Ever Wanted to Know.
Share438
Tweet
Pin

About Olivier Poirier-Leroy

Olivier Poirier-Leroy is a former national level swimmer and the author of the books YourSwimBook and Conquer the Pool. He writes all things high-performance swimming, and his articles were read over 3 million times last year. His work has appeared on USA Swimming, SwimSwam, STACK, NBC Universal, and more. He's also kinda tall and can be found on Twitter.

Recent Posts

How Olympic Champion Ryan Murphy Deals with Pre-Race Nerves

How Olympic Champion Ryan Murphy Deals with Pre-Race Nerves

How to Execute on Race Day When the Pressure is On

How to Execute on Race Day When the Pressure is On

How Often Should I Test My Pool Water

How Often Should I Test My Pool Water?

How to Remove Chlorine from Hair

How to Get Chlorine Out of Hair (Goodbye Dry and Smelly Hair)

How Swimmers Can Develop Exceptional Core Values

7 Ways Swimmers Can Stick to Core Values

DMC Swim Fins

DMC Swim Fins Compared – Which Ones are Best for You?

One Hour Swimming Workouts

5 Best One-Hour Swim Workouts (for Every Kind of Workout)

Shokz OpenSwim MP3 Player Review – The Best Conduction Headphones for Swimming?

SHOKZ OpenSwim MP3 Player Review – The Best Conduction Headphones for Swimming?

Best Swim Robes for After Swimming

6 Best Swim Robes for After Swimming and Getting Warm

Best Body Wash for Swimmers and Chlorine Removal

The 5 Best Body Washes for Swimmers (Bye-Bye Chlorine Smell and Dry Skin)

Mental Training

SITE

  • YourSwimBook
  • Conquer the Pool
  • Team Orders
  • Contact
  • Join Newsletter

Articles

  • Swim Training
  • Mental Training
  • Best Swim Gear
  • Gear Reviews

YourSwimLog.com - Guarantee Badge

Lane 6 Publishing © 2022 · Privacy Policy · Return Policy · Terms of Service · Affiliate Disclosure