Eric 'The Eel' Moussambani - An Olympic moment to remember

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zjCc_VyxM4



Backstory: After gaining entry to the ’00 Sydney games via a wildcard drawing designed to benefit developing nations, the unlikely entrant Moussambani “wins” his 100m freestyle qualifying heat when his two competitors are disqualified for false starts.

Goosebump moment: OK, so maybe you don’t have goosebumps just watching him flail around in the water. But now think about how up until eight months ago, Moussambani had never swum before. And how he trained in a hotel pool. And how, despite the fact that he didn’t even break the 200m world record, he still competed and proudly represented his country. And imagine "Chariots of Fire" playing in the background. There you go.



Read more: http://www.esquire.com/blogs/lists/5-olympic-video-moments#ixzz0gXkqJWjN

[Lasher]

1. A fine Olympic moment.

When I watched the video I found myself rooting for him to just make it to the end of the pool.

[FSogol]

2. C'mon Eric, don't drown!

Don't forget the other great Olympic story; Eddie the Eagle.

From wiki

Eddie began jumping under the watchful eye of Chuck Berghorn in Lake Placid, NY, using his equipment though he had to wear six layers of socks to make the boots fit. Edwards was handicapped by his weight - at about 82 kg (181 lb), more than 9 kg (20 lb) heavier than the next heaviest competitor - and by his lack of financial support for training - he was totally self-funded. Another problem was that he was very far sighted, requiring him to wear his glasses at all times, even though when skiing they fogged to such an extent that he could not see. Eddie was informed of his qualification for the Games whilst working as a plasterer and residing temporarily in a Finnish mental hospital due to lack of funds for alternative accommodation (rather than as a patient).

"They said I was afraid of heights. But I was doing 60 jumps a day then, which is hardly something someone who was afraid of heights would do.
... But was he afraid of jumping?
Of course I was. There was always a chance that my next jump would be my last. A big chance."

[Berry Cool]

3. Eddie was just on one of our local TV Olympic shows.

They said he'd been in town for an eye exam (maybe Cleveland Clinic?) because he'd had his eyes replaced and was getting a checkup. Yeah--replaced!

[NNN0LHI]

4. Video of Eddie the Eagle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7MmJIy0bjo