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US Freestyle Team Grabs Gold by a Fingertip

Posted Aug 11, 08 3:23 AM CDT in World,  Sports 

(Newser) – Jason Lezak pulled ahead in the final moments of the 400-meter freestyle relay to win a gold for the US men’s swimming team and push Michael Phelps one step closer to a record eight golds, ESPN reports. Lezak, 32, swam the fastest leg in history—46.06 seconds—finishing a mere .08 seconds before the second-place French as the US team set a new world record of 3:08.24.

“I knew I was going to have to swim out of my mind," Lezak said. "Still, I'm in disbelief." Lezak, the oldest swimmer on the US team, was nearly a body length behind the French leader at the final turn. “A fingertip did the victory—it is nothing," said a French swimmer. "Unbelievable," said Phelps, who swam the leadoff leg and then became the team's biggest cheerleader. "I lost my voice. I was definitely pretty emotional out there."
Source: ESPN

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France's Alain Bernard, right, is followed by Jason Lezak on the final leg of the men's 4x100-meter freestyle relay final.   (AP Photo/Bob Bukaty)
Members of the U.S. relay team show their medals after setting a world record to win the men's 4x100-meter freestyle relay final Aug. 11, 2008.   (AP Photo/Thomas Kienzle)
Michael Phelps, right, of the United States jubilates as his team anchor Jason Lezak, bottom, finished to win the men's 4x100-meter relay.   (AP Photo/Thomas Kienzle)
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