Happened in Ann Arbor last Saturday. Car reportedly spun out on an icy
patch of road, which got him broad-sided.
The 1996 Olympic Final in the 400 IM between Namesnik and Dolan was the
greatest race I ever saw (my account of it from an r.s.s. posting 8
years ago is below). When my then 15 y.o. spent a week 7 years back at
the Wolverine Swim Camp, Eric was her main coach. Quiet and intense
was the personality report. But also helpful. Very sad. He had two
young kids.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:Quoted message said:>
We all know the best all-time performances (World Records,
etc.), but what about the best all time - swimmer against
swimmer - races? By this I mean the head to head races.
For starters, I'd like to nominate the '96 Olympic final in the
men's 400 IM, with Dolan vs. Namesnik. Here were two guys
who trained together and, if stories are to be believed, weren't
exactly best friends. Urbanchek was quoted as saying that
their workouts were like 2 sharks circling each other, looking
for the chance to attack and draw blood.
Namesnik's motivation was tremendous. Silver medalist in
400 IM in '92 and former US Swimmer of the Year, he was eclipsed
both at Michigan and also nationally by the peerless Dolan.
But Namesnik never conceded that Dolan was the superior
swimmer in the 400 IM (which is arguably the best test of
the world's greatest all around swimmer). He desperately
wanted to prove that in Atlanta.
The tension between them at the start of the race of palpable
even on TV.
The entire 400 was absolutely dead even. The final
50 was absolutely synchronized strokes, absolutely eyeball
to eyeball the whole way. In the end it was Dolan
only by virtue of his longer reach. Both were utterly
spent, as was I from just watching them. Even at the
end there were no mutual congratulations or even a concession
in the post-race interviews that it had been anything like
a sporting contest between worthy opponents. Each
refused to concede anything to the other. More like
a war where one side still can't accept the defeat and
the other refuses to admit that his opponent put up a good
fight. It would be a shame were swim fans to forget Namesnik,
with his two 400 IM silvers, but with truly a golden heart (if
not a heart of gold).
Incredible race.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:Quoted message said:>>>>>>>>>
- Larry W