Sports
When Poliana Okimoto Hit Michael Phelps at Beijing 2008
During a warm-up session, the Brazilian swimmer struck the American superstar with a hand paddle just before his eighth gold medal.
At the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, a routine training session nearly turned into a historic swimming mishap. Coach Ricardo Cintra recalled the behind-the-scenes moment when Poliana Okimoto struck Michael Phelps with a hand paddle in the warm-up pool.
The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games were etched forever into sports history by Michael Phelps's legendary campaign, winning eight gold medals in a single edition. What few people know is that, behind the scenes at the Water Cube, a routine training session for Brazilian open water swimming nearly caused an unforeseen incident of global proportions.
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Lane 2 practice and the warm-up pool
During the final day of competition in the Olympic pool, Ricardo Cintra and Poliana Okimoto went to the complex to watch the finals—where they saw Tunisia's Oussama Mellouli win the 1,500m freestyle—and to complete the Brazilian athlete's warm-down. Poliana needed to complete an intense 200-meter speed set at an A3 pace using hand paddles, choosing her usual lane: lane 2.
While Poliana was pushing hard through her sprints, Michael Phelps entered the same warm-up pool for an easy swim before the 4x100m medley relay final, the race that would secure his coveted eighth gold medal.
The paddle strike and the relief
As Poliana accelerated to overtake the swimmer ahead of her, unaware of who it was, her paddle struck Phelps's arm with such force that the gear came loose and flew across the water. Annoyed by the obstruction without realizing who she had hit, the Brazilian stopped to complain.
Watching the scene from the pool deck, Ricardo Cintra panicked and warned Poliana that the swimmer she hit was none other than Michael Phelps. The American stopped at the wall, showed the mark left by the impact on his arm, and calmly accepted the Brazilian's apology with a friendly "don't worry." To the Brazilian team's relief, the clash was nothing more than a scare and did not prevent the American star's historic achievement.
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