Scott Goldblatt, Swimnetwork.com

Beijing – With visions of seven dancing in everyone’s heads, the eyes of the world turned to the pool on this second to last session with one athlete in mind – Michael Phelps.

“I think the biggest thing is there … when there have been quotes in the paper saying that’s it’s impossible to ever tie or break his record, it just shows you anything’s possible," Phelps said.  Phelps is now $1 million richer, thanks to a deal prior to the 2004 Olympics with Speedo that incentivized Phelps' quest for seven golds.

But everyone in attendance here in Beijing is asking the same question - how?  Replays from above the water showed a race that was closer than close. It was clear that Serbia’s Milorad Cavic glided to the wall, while Phelps in contrast chose to take an additional stroke.  

The finish was eerily reminiscent of the 1988 Olympic final in the same event when Suriname’s Anthony Nesty defeated Matt Biondi by the slightest of margins. Biondi was leading until a few meters remained, but chose to kick to the wall instead of taking a final stroke, a decision that allowed Nesty to win gold by one one-hundredth of a second.

In this case, it was Cavic – the underdog – leading the entire length of the race being chased by Phelps.  Cavic chose not to take an additional stroke, but Phelps did and that proved to be the difference.

[Michael Phelps and Milorad Cavic finish in the finals of the Men's 100m Butterfly. Photo (C) Getty Images]

“When I did take that extra half stroke, I thought I had lost the race," Phelps said. But I guess when I took the half stroke, that was what I needed. I’m really at a loss for words. I’m excited. I just don’t know what to say.

"I had to take my goggles off first to make sure the 1 was next to my name. Then when I saw 50.58 and 50.59, with the 1 next to my name, that's when I let out my roar."

Even Bob Bowman and Debbie Phelps believed Michael had lost, with Bowman stating “he got him” and Michael’s mom holding up two fingers.
 
“After seeing that race and seeing this race, I guess my two finishes over the last four years have been pretty good, and have been at the right time,” Phelps added.

The end result was Phelps capturing his seventh gold medal of these games in 50.58 ahead of Cavic in 50.59.  It simply cannot get any closer than that.

“Losing by one one-hundredth of a second is the most difficult loss you can have, especially at the Olympics," Cavic said. "You have to understand that I came into this competition with a goal to win a bronze medal. I went my best time, and I did better than bronze – I got silver, and I almost got gold.” When asked about whether he felt the timing system could have failed, he said "technology is also imperfect... it's possible... anything's possible... the hand is quicker than the eye, I suppose."

Meanwhile, the Serbian team did file an official protest regarding the finish, but FINA slowed the video to the 10,000th of a second to make sure Phelps actually touched first. The Serbian team was able to view this footage and FINA executive director Cornel Marculescu said that the Serbian team “was very satisfied and they agree with the referee.”

Ben Ekumbo from Kenya spoke for FINA in an official statement.

“We had the 100 meters butterfly today. Immediately after that event we got a protest from Serbia which was questioning the arrival of their swimmer. Under our rules, we do listen to protests, and we do make a review. Before providing an answer, I personally reviewed the footage from Omega, and it was very clear that the Serbian swimmer touched second, after Michael Phelps. It is evident from the video that it was an issue of stroking.  One swimmer was stroking, the other was gliding. According to rules, we use automatic timing systems and the timing system in this case, Omega, was in perfect condition. It was in perfect order and there are no doubts that it provides for these Olympic games… After watching the video footage, we had meeting with Serbian officials, the team leaders, to give them an explanation. And offered them an opportunity to see the video themselves.”

Of Phelps, Mark Spitz told The Associated Press, "One word: epic. It goes to show you that not only is this guy the greatest swimmer of all time and the greatest Olympian of all time, he's maybe the greatest athlete of all time. He's the greatest racer who ever walked the planet."

Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry’s goal was much the same as Phelps’ this morning - win a gold medal and break the world record.  In the women's 200 backstroke, Coventry accomplished both in 2:05.24. American Margaret Hoelzer took the silver.

Great Britain’s Rebecca Adlington, surprise winner in the women's 400 freestyle, swam away from the field this morning in the 800 freestyle.  With this swim, Adlington broke the oldest record on the books. The nearly nineteen-year-old record of American Janet Evans, who was in attendance this evening, watched as Adlington finished in 18.14.10, slightly over two seconds under Evans' old mark. "I knew when I touched the wall, I was going to win the gold," said Adlington. "But I didn't expect to get the record. It's always been a goal of mine."

"My dream was to be an Olympic champion and that is now realized," stated Brazil’s Cesar Cielo Filho after winning the gold men’s 50 free, outpacing one of the fastest fields in the history of the event.  France was able to put two men on the award podium, as Amaury Leveaux and Alain Bernard won silver and bronze today.

In the women's 50 freestyle, American Dara Torres became not only the oldest woman in the competition, but also the epitome of sportsmanship.  When Sweden's Therese Alshammar's suit ripped, after attempted to assist Alshammar, Torres quickly lobbied games officials to pause the heat so that a replacement suit could be put on.  Torres then proceeded to qualify first for the final in a swift 24.27.

Australian Cate Campbell was the second qualifier in 24.42.  American Kara Lynn Joyce also advanced tomorrow's final.

Phelps' quest ends tomorrow morning as the United States will attempt to earn themselves a gold medal in the 4x100 medley relay.