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American Michael Phelps is aiming to break compatriot Mark Spitz's (inset) record of seven gold medals in a single Olympic Games. |
He will win
Phelps is going to win. He has to win if he is going to get the eight golds. He cannot fail and he will not fail on Sunday.
Ryan Lochte is going to pressurise him a lot, as much in the 400 as in the 200 but Sunday is the first day of competition so everybody will be fresh and rested. It will be more difficult for Ryan to surprise Michael. Ryan will be even more dangerous in the 200 metres a final that will be disputed on the seventh day of competition,
August 15.
Real test
The 4x100 relay is going to be the most difficult race for the United States and their biggest rival will be the French team. Phelps and his teammates set a new world record two years ago in Canada with a time of 3:12,46 minutes. But look out for France.
The opening ceremony on Friday will be a great event. These ceremonies are a festive occasion and the Chinese, with their reputation, will make it one of the best that we have seen although the weather is not supposed to be good. Perhaps, there will be rain, which will not be very nice for the people out in the open.
They (organisers) are going to do something big with fireworks. It is going to be fun. Fireworks were invented in China. If it rains, it will ruin the ceremony but at least the city will be cleared of pollution. Rain will cover everything for a couple of days so the pollution will go.
Doping cases are already being talked about. The IOC are obviously going to carry out a lot of tests. I don't think doping is going to be a big problem in Beijing at least in as much as it will affect any of the principal sportsmen in these Games.
- Asia Features
(Swimming legend Mark Spitz claimed seven gold medals in the 1972 Munich Olympics)
