Word: moussambani
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...ERIC MOUSSAMBANI In 1:52.72, the Equatorial eel proved that nearly drowning merits more press than winning...
After a while, I longed for a buddy to freeload with. That's when I saw Eric Moussambani, the athlete from Equatorial Guinea who swam in the first heat of the 100-m freestyle. After the other competitors were disqualified for jumping at the "on your mark" part, Moussambani had to swim alone. Moussambani had never even come close to swimming two pool lengths before. Halfway through the race, he started flailing and seemed in danger of drowning. But he prevailed, clocking in at 1:52.72. That's 1:04.08 longer than it took gold-medal winner Pieter...
Because Sydney, as part of the bid that brought the Olympics to the most ridiculously located country in the world, promised to fly any athlete to the Games, Moussambani was able to get free airfare, housing at the Olympic Village and food at the cafeteria. This guy was my idol...
Better yet, Moussambani was being feted as a hero. The Sydney Morning Herald wrote that he exhibited the true Olympic spirit, not once using the phrase "ballsy hucksterism." The Today show did an interview; the Olympic Committee took him to lunch and put him on a postcard; Speedo bought him a uniform. The way I saw it, Moussambani was more than a hero; he was a name I could put on my expense account. So last Friday I offered to take him to 41, one of the most expensive restaurants in Sydney. He accepted, then called later...
Despite the language barrier, we all enjoyed the five-course meal, and it turns out we have much in common. Sure, Moussambani has never read TIME, and I have no idea where his country is, but we both know how to work it. He and his fellow swimmer Paula Barila Bolopa, who swam the 50-m in 1:03.97, doubling the second worst time, had received money to be interviewed by Australian papers. And Moussambani had already turned down an ad campaign. "Speedo offered to sponsor me, but I didn't like the contract," he said, eating baked Alaska...