To bring the Olympic spirit to educate nations in the tardy 1990s , the Olympic Committee allow a small identification number of “ savage card ” athletes to connect the Games . But because they did n’t have to go through any pass rhythm to contend , not all of the challenger come disposed . One such athlete was a swimmer from Equatorial Guinea identify Eric Moussambani . When Moussambani go far at the 2000 Sydney Games , he ’d only been school for the 100 - m freestyle for about eight months . He ’d also never been in an Olympic - sizing pocket billiards and had never raced more than 50 measure . Regardless , he was compulsive to represent his land .
The three wild - lineup qualifier were give their own rut , and Moussambani took to the blocks next to swimmers from Niger and Tajikistan . When the functionary called the swimmers to their marks , both of Moussambani ’s competitors were indispose for false starts . Left to drown the heat by himself , Eric dive in and dog paddled , puff for atmosphere and flailing his implements of war and leg . midway through the race , the place looked so dread that commentator worried he was drowning .
When Moussambani finally dillydally out 10 meters from the end of the raceway , the gang rallied behind him as he edge toward the finish . As he finally pulled himself from the water , the applause thundered . His final time was 1:52.72 — more than twice that of swimmers in the previous heat . But Moussambani could n’t have been happy . Ecstatic to have stop his first 100 - meter race , he told reporters , “ I ’m start to jump and dance all night long in festivity of my personal triumph . ”
Moussambani ’s pluckiness and tenacity made him an Olympian famous person , and his newfound fans dubbed him “ Eric the Eel . ” He kept training for the 2004 Games and even got his time down to a hefty 57 s . regrettably , a visa snafu hold back him from competing again .
you could check his memorable Olympic moment ( and 52 seconds)here .
