What happened with Eric the Eel?
This was the slowest time in Olympic history by far, and Moussambani had trouble finishing the race, but he won his heat after both his competitors were disqualified due to false starts….Eric Moussambani.
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| Event(s) | 50 m freestyle 100 m freestyle |
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Did Eric the Eel get a gold medal?
Eric the Eel, the man who failed so gloriously in the 100m freestyle in front of 17,500 screaming fans at Sydney’s Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, became a global sensation. Almost two minutes – more than double the gold medal time of 48.30 set by Netherlands’ Pieter van den Hoogenband.
How did Eric the Eel get to the Olympics?
As a young man, in the early hours of the morning, he would use that pool and teach himself how to swim. He received a wildcard to compete at Sydney 2000. It took three days for Moussambani to travel from his homeland to Australia for the Olympics, the first time he had ever been to the country.
What country is Eric the Eel from?
Equatorial Guinean
Eric Moussambani/Nationality
Where is Eric Moussambani now?
Now 20 years on from Sydney, Moussambani still lives in the Equatorial Guinea capital city of Malabo. He has four sons and works at a petroleum company, The Sydney Morning Herald. Moussambani also spends up to 30 hours per week training aspiring Olympic swimmers as the country’s national swimming coach.
Did Eric the Eel get better?
In the six years after Equatorial Guinea’s most famous swimmer almost sank in the 100 metre freestyle at the Sydney Olympics, Eric Moussambani got better. A lot better. In fact, it’s fair to say Eric the Eel became the real deal.
Is Eric Moussambani married?
I have a wife and four children,” he said. “I’m not rich but I earn my living.” He said that he tells the young swimmers the lesson he took from his lonely swim in Sydney.
Has a lifeguard ever had to save someone at the Olympics?
For the record, no swimmer in Olympic history has ever needed rescuing. It’s a joke to have life guards behind the world’s top swimmers, however, life guards serve an important role during swimming events. An emergency may arise, such as debilitating cramps, heart attacks, or head-crunching crashes into the wall.