BEIJING — In the minds of American swimming fans, Jason Lezak will remain a hero forever. His astounding anchor leg to catch world-record holder Alain Bernard to win Monday’s 400-meter freestyle relay will go down in international swimming lore.
The only way Lezak could replace it in his own mind was to do it again.
Unfortunately, beating the Frenchman twice in four days was too much to ask. Bernard beat Australian archrival Eamon Sullivan, who has traded the world mark with Bernard this year, in this morning’s 100 freestyle, with Lezak taking the bronze.
Lezak’s 47.67 time was off his personal best of 47.58.
“Obviously, it doesn’t top the relay from the other night, but it’s something that is really close to me,” Lezak said. “The momentum was great, but physically it took its toll. I’m lucky I survived that day. I’m feeling a little tired right now.”
However, it erased the memory of four years ago, when Lezak tried conserving energy for a nearly certain appearance 100 final by taking it easy in the semis and didn’t qualify.
“It’s been eating at me a long time,” Lezak said. “For me to get a medal, I’m really excited.”
He wasn’t nearly as excited as Bernard, who faded in the final 50 to lose Monday’s relay.
“I took it to heart,” Bernard said through an interpreter. “There were four of us, but I was the last one. It was on my shoulders. They said it wasn’t my fault, that it’s a four-man race. That helped me.”
The U.S. women took the bronze in the 800 freestyle relay. Australia destroyed the United States’ world record of 7:50.09 with a 7:44.31, and the U.S. set an American record at 7:46.33.
Katie Hoff trailed China’s Pang Jiaying by .4 of a second at the finish.
“I did my best and ran out of room at the end,” Hoff said. “It’s tough, but we got the American record by four seconds, so we can’t really complain.”
Michael Phelps, in a rare day off without a final, set up his showdown in the 200 individual medley by winning his semifinal, as did American Ryan Lochte, who nearly beat him at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
“It gives me more time to rest,” Phelps said. “That’s the biggest thing over the next few days.”
Phelps said he has spent most of his spare time watching the documentary “Planet Earth” and playing the video game Age of Empires, and playing spades.
Lochte will have a difficult double Friday, having qualified today in the 200 backstroke, in which the world-record holder will face defending Olympic gold medal winner Aaron Peirsol and then 25 minutes later face Phelps in the 200 IM.
