Changing China
Giant on the move
Phelps is so good the rest have their sights on silver
Poor Laszlo Cseh, the Hungarian who twice in these Games has finished second to Michael Phelps, was quite frank when asked by a reporter whether he had thought, during Wednesday’s 200m butterfly that he could actually beat Michael Phelps.
“It never even crossed my mind,” he said.
That should tell you everything about how much better Phelps is than his rivals — they know they are swimming for silver medal at best and that can’t be much fun.
A Hungarian reporter told me that Cseh had spent two months deep down in the dumps after last year’s world championships when he realised how unstoppable Phelps was and that all his work was targeted towards trying to be the next best.
The Russian team, who on Wednesday finished second in the 4×200 freestyle relay to the Phelps-led U.S squad, were a likeable bunch of lads who were beaming at the post-race press conference, as if they had actually won gold.
When they were asked about how they rated Phelps, all four of them laughed. “He may be human but he’s from a different planet,” said Alexander Sukhorukov.
Phelps insisted he wasn’t unbeatable but watching him leave the fastest swimmers in the world in his wake throughout this week it really is hard to picture him fighting for second best.
I think Laszlo Cseh should stop thinking that he’s all for second best. I think anybody can beat Phelps. Especially these past years after the Olympics, he had experienced being beaten. I think Cseh will have his chance and I think it will be easy for him if he start thinking that HE CAN BEAT PHELPS- and LOCHTE. Nothing is impossible. I’d like to see him on top of the podium wearing a gold medal in 2012. Best of luck. Don’t lose heart.