'The race we should never have won': Sydney's relay kings ride again

To a man, the quartet of Michael Klim, Chris Fydler, Ashley Callus and Ian Thorpe can't recall a wave of noise like the one that descended on them in the final stages of the 4x100m freestyle on night one of the Sydney Olympics.

As a 17-year-old, Thorpe thundered home to overhaul American ace Gary Hall jnr, a sheet of white water "three feet high" soaring from his famous feet as they powered him to the wall like a freight train, the crowd rocked the very foundations of the Homebush Bay arena and the nation held its breath.

Victory would become one of the iconic moments of Sydney's Games and the air guitar celebration an enduring image as they joined forces to rebuke the pre-race banter of Hall jnr; a light-hearted utterance that saw him cast as the anti-hero leading a sprint relay that had never tasted Olympic defeat.

Twenty years later, with new details and fresh perspective, Klim, Fydler, Callus and Thorpe recall a night that changed their lives and Olympic folklore forever.

'I don’t think anybody gave us a hope in hell'

Fydler We did beat them the year before at Pan Pacs and the year before that, in 1998, we were second at the World Championships behind the Americans. We knew we were in the hunt, or certainly competitive. But the Americans always come up for an Olympics, they always have incredible depth in the sprint freestyle. The 100m free relay was always a hard one to crack.

Callus As a group, if you looked at their personal bests, they absolutely obliterated ours at the time. I think there were only four guys, five including our coach, who believed we could win. I don’t think anybody gave us a hope in hell to be honest.

Klim I remember swimming quite well at the time, I think I won the Pan Pacs 100m in '99. But, on paper, the US always tend to come up every four years at the Olympics. We didn’t really read into that (win) too much because when the rankings came out before the Olympics, only one of us was in the top five and only two in the top 10, so we weren’t really a force to be reckoned with to be honest.

Ashley Callus, Chris Fydler, Michael Klim and Ian Thorpe celebrate their gold in the 4x100m relay. The Australians set a world record of 3:13.67 while Klim also broke the individual world record, finishing his leg in 48.18s. Credit: Vince Caligiuri

Fydler I remember in the early 90s nobody was breaking 50 seconds and by the time of the Olympic trials for Sydney, there were five or six of us. Mike and I at the trials broke 49 and that was the first time that had happened. It was a time of great depth for us and that’s rare. But then you need everyone to be fast on the one night.

Thorpe It’s the race we should never have won. I couldn’t believe that people thought we were going to win. People really thought that. I was scratching my head a little bit.

Race day: 'Swimming for each other's lives'

Fydler We were pretty tight coming into that. There was six of us in that team (with Adam Pine and Todd Pearson) and we had breakfast together that morning, the heat guys and Ian. We had a plan we wanted to execute. Ian didn’t swim the heat and Michael preferred not to swim the heat. I wanted to swim in the heat; it was the first day of the Olympics, you had all the anxiety and nerves. The other three boys that swam with me were swimming off for the fourth position, so they were anxious. Ash got selected to go through.

Callus I’m glad I was able to swim the heats to get a feel for it. Even the atmosphere around the heats in Sydney was something I hadn’t experienced to that point. With Thorpe and Fyds and Klim already decided we were swimming for that final spot and I ended up being just 0.1s quicker than Adam Pine.

Klim It just happened that we were all at different stages of our careers, different strengths. We race each other for spots two or three months prior then we are swimming for each other’s lives. It’s not like we had four 100m freestyle specialists. Even Fyds, he won the 50m free at trials, Ash had only swum at one major meet before.

To take you back even further, even at our staging camp in Melbourne we made a habit of sitting together at meal time and having meetings around that to show the other swimmers how important this relay was to us all. Once you get to the day, it’s just about trying to keep everyone relaxed. We had practised our change overs hundreds of times over. We just had to make sure everyone was there in the marshalling area and as it turns out, that proved to be one of the biggest issues.

Paging Ian Thorpe: ‘Where the hell is he? Is he coming?'

Fydler We all got down to the marshalling area and sat there as a trio (Fydler, Klim, Callus). We just assumed that Ian would follow us down as soon as he was ready (Thorpe had just won the 400 metres freestyle). Then the clock starts counting down. I’m not really sure if they think we are playing some sort of game at that stage… who is the fourth swimmer going to be?

Callus Michael was a rock star in the sport by that point, so they were very relaxed. One thing I do remember is sitting there, the three of us, and one of the other guys said: ‘Where’s Thorpey'?

Klim We weren’t worried too much at the start because we had Jan Talbot, Don’s wife, who was a manager on the team. She had a walkie talkie and was talking to the guys about where Thorpey was and everything seemed to be going to schedule. When he began to suit up, things started to go pear-shaped.

Then she advised us he had some suit malfunctions. We knew there was no way this guy was going to let us down. But the pressure started mounting when we got a five-minute warning, we had to get ourselves ready.

I don’t think anyone was doing deliberate mind games but the tension builds … and we didn’t have our fourth swimmer. We had to just pretend like it was all cool. We had to show we didn’t give a stuff.

Fydler There was a five-minute call and there was… nothing. Nobody was walking down there. At some point, I would have thought either Mike or Ash or myself would have said: ‘Where the hell is he? Is he coming?' But we just assumed that someone would get him there. I think we got a little concerned when they asked us to walk out and Ian still wasn’t there. History will show that only three of us walked out onto pool deck for the final and every other team had four. I had never seen that happen before or since.

Thorpe It really was military precision to get me to the next part of this… even getting changed, down to the last minute, so I could walk off pool deck after my 400m, eating something in between, recovering from the race before, rehydrating, then jump back in and prepare for a different race.

Everything had gone to plan, until the point where I had to put on a swimsuit. I was three-quarters of the way through putting it on and as I got it over my second shoulder, I heard a snap and the zipper was off its line. There was no way we could re-attach the zipper; this suit is broken. I can remember looking at my bag. I had one swimsuit that was wet that I just won the 400m freestyle in and I had my training costume. We just wear them (training costumes) out, basically. They are designed to last, they aren’t designed for performance at all.

I was looking at the two and I didn’t know if I could get a wet swimsuit on. But I opted for it and made sure how cautious I was in putting it on the second time around. I am a little bit anxious but pretty calm. I went into the change-rooms to do it and I had multiple people trying to get this thing on me, trying to pull this wet swimsuit on me.

We were pulling it up my legs and I hear one of the team managers sitting outside saying ‘Thorpey’s on his way, he’s walking up to the marshalling area right now’. I’m like, ‘This isn't even halfway up my leg’. I’m freaking out at this stage, there are too many people around me. I said to Adam Pine, ‘Please stay and help me’. We’re putting it on gradually and I’m trying not to stress out. But I got it on eventually.

And remember, I broke my ankle four months out from the Games and I broke it running. I ran back to the pool, which was probably the stupidest thing I did. It was wet and slippery. But I went through marshalling and I didn’t have time to zip up my jacket. I signed in and went out to the pool as they announced Australia. It was within seconds. The thing I remember was the reaction of my teammates … they had no idea what was going on.

The first 100m, Michael Klim v Anthony Ervin: 'I was like a ball of energy just waiting to explode'

Michael Klim and Anthony Ervin.Credit: SMH

Klim We had heard about Anthony, he swam the year before at Pan Pacs, he was a great talent. He was super-gifted, still very young and in some ways a bit of an unknown quantity. But I was so focused, I had a pretty clear mind in terms of what I had to do. Even though I knew he would go out fast, that was the only thing I thought about. But when I turned a body length in front of him, I thought, ‘Let’s go’. I didn’t look back after the turn.

Fydler I had no idea at the time how fast he was swimming. Mike is a great guy to lead off with … he had a high rating and for me, the crowd dims at that point. When he turned at the other end, I just kept an eye on him coming in. It was a great start but you aren’t thinking about the lead that much because you are just concentrating on the change.

We had a strategy to really encourage the Americans to chase us, getting Mike out in front and getting them to press hard on that first lap so we could really blast that last 25m of the second lap and get the lead back and extend it. Each one of us had to get the job done.

Callus The gun went and Klimmy was such a superior athlete with his skills and underwater work, so he was half a body length in front before he even started swimming.

Klim really put a spanner in their works by giving us such a good start. I don’t think they expected that… I don’t think we expected that. I think that threw their race plan a little bit and they had to really chase hard in that first lap. I meant we could really focus on that second 50.

Thorpe You can’t see from the position but I was watching on the screen, while also keeping myself warm, because I’m in a wet swimsuit at this stage. I’m looking up and see how far ahead he is at the first 50 and I was like, ‘Wow, this is great’.

I knew he’d broken the world record when he touched and Michael got out of the pool and asked me what time he did. I told him he’d broken the world record and he asked, ‘Yeah, but what time?’. I said ‘I don’t know the exact time but you broke the world record. Either way, it’s good’. I don’t think Michael could see that far.

Klim I definitely felt I was putting it all together. I had a great start, maximised my underwater and didn’t breathe for the first 20m of that race. Even my underwater after the turn, everything just seemed to click, I hadn’t felt any tension at all. I think I actually built in confidence as the race went on.

I looked across at Lorenzo Vismara (Italy), who on was on my right coming back, and I couldn’t even see him. I couldn’t even see his white water, so I thought I was at least two body lengths ahead of this guy. It was almost like a time trial swim and that’s the kind of race you want to do. The result spoke for itself. It was the fastest time (48.18s) I’d ever done and I didn’t get anywhere near it since. It felt perfect.

Michael Klim (48.18s) smashes the individual 100m freestyle world record to set up a decisive lead over Anthony Ervin (48.89).

The second 100m, Chris Fydler v Neil Walker: 'I’m slowing... but just not as fast as he was slowing.'

Chris Fydler and Neil Walker.Credit: SMH

Fydler Neil had been, for the best part of five or six years, the fastest of the Americans and a very good 100 freestyler. We knew how all of them raced, we studied all of them and they were mostly a lot faster in that first 50m than we were. We also knew we were strong at the back end.

Thorpe We knew every one of us was going to have a better second 50 than the Americans. There was no issue in terms of strategy because we knew how the Americans would swim this race. Fyds saw that lead that Michael had created disappear really quickly but then he touches ahead again. All of his experience really started to show.

Fydler My job was to be three or four per cent slower and encourage Neil to really chase hard in that first 50. We would then start to drag these guys off in the last 25m. The turn was good, I kept my head down, because in a 100 relay there are waves everywhere. You hang under a bit more and pop up and start driving.

In that last 50m, I wanted to build and finish really strongly. It feels a little different than it looks. I’m not accelerating…. I’m slowing but just not as fast as he was slowing. I just remember at that point, I had swum so many 100 frees, and that point of the race is so painful. The most important part then is to get your hand on the wall cleanly.

The worst thing you can do is to start shortening your stroke because that makes it so hard for the next guy to time the change. You just put your head down, you don’t breathe and that’s the job you have to do.

Callus That’s when the nerves really started to tingle, because Fyds had a considerable lead next to Neil Walker, who was the second-fastest man in the world at the time. Fyds was swimming very well and so when he turned at the 150 mark to come back, all I remember getting up on the blocks, staring down the lane, feeling pins and needles in my fingers and toes, had a glance up into the crowd and the grandstand looked massive, the noise was deafening.

Chris Fydler (48.48) pours it on in the second 50m to power away from Neil Walker (48.31) and keep Australia in front at the halfway point.

The third 100m, Ashley Callus v Jason Lezak: 'I knew that if I didn't fight like a dog, the end result could have been different.'

Ashley Callus and Jason Lezak.Credit: SMH

Callus I jumped in and everything was tingling, the adrenaline was just rushing through me. He was quick out of the gates but I knew if I could turn with him at the 50, even though he had pulled me back quite a bit, I was in with a shot coming down the second 50.

I could see him there, you use your peripheral vision and all of your senses are going overtime. The thing I do remember is going into the turn is that I didn’t want to let the other guys down, because I was given a significant lead.

Fydler When I finish, I’m in a world of pain. You are struggling to move and your legs are on fire. I don’t remember seeing much of Ash at all.

Klim Standing from behind, I thought his stroke started to get a bit short but he was still so composed. To put things into context, Jason Lezak has the fastest relay split in history. He is the fastest swimmer ever to cover 100m freestyle. So for Ash to stay just on his shoulder then hold his speed, it was just phenomenal.

Thorpe I'm not too focused on Ash swimming at this point. I stand on the blocks very, very early. It was partly me owning the arena again. It’s home ground advantage so I’m going to use it. I stood up early for any mental gain I could have… I’m not intimidated.

I hadn’t thought of that beforehand, it was motivating for me, it meant I was ready and I was focused. It happened in that time and that’s how it played out.

I never see Ashley touch the wall but I could see how much he was fighting at the end to hold onto his stroke for me. The worst thing you can do is your stroke shortens (near the end). I count each stroke coming in so I have a rhythm so I know exactly when he’s going to touch. You try to maintain that stroke the best you can so you can give the next swimmer the tightest start possible.

Callus I came off the wall and just launched into the second 50. At the 75, I knew he was starting to tire and I was feeling relaxed and strong. That enabled Thorpey to get a flying start against one of the best relay finishers there has ever been. I knew that if I didn't fight like a dog, the end result could have been different.

Ashley Callus (48.71) was headed in the first lap but digs deep to hold off Jason Lezak (48.42) and give Ian Thorpe the lead at the final change.

The final 100m, Ian Thorpe v Gary Hall jnr: 'I put my head down and just ploughed through.'

Ian Thorpe and Gary Hall jr.Credit: SMH

Thorpe I heard the biggest cheer of my career in the 400m and that was only eclipsed when people were cheering for me then. It was a good changeover. I started swimming well and feeling good… I didn’t know whether I was going fast or slow but I was feeling good in the water.

In the first 15 or 20m that the huge roar just kind of changed to a collective sigh, because it was quite incredible how quickly (Gary Hall jnr went past me) and I was going as fast as I could swim.

Klim We all know how talented Thorpey was, even as a 15-year-old becoming a world champion. His talent was never questioned. But I guess he’d never swum in a high-pressure 100m relay like that previously. I thought we’d swum a really amazing relay. We’ll be satisfied with the silver, we threw everything at it.

Fydler We knew Ian had a lead when he got away and then I remember thinking how hard we had worked to get that lead, only to watch it disappear in the first 15m. I was thinking, ‘Oh God, I hope he has the speed’ because he wasn’t a 100m freestyler. He improved that event immeasurably over the coming years but, at that stage, he was mostly a distance specialist.

Gary was all over him in the first 15 or 20m. The next thought for me was at the turn and Gary had about a metre or a metre-and-a-half on him then. I remember saying to Mike, ‘Do you think he can catch him?’ and Mike was always positive, he thought Ian could get there.

Callus Well, to be honest, I didn’t know the capabilities of what he was able to really do in that scenario. But when athletes are put into that sort of position, they have to find another gear and I think Thorpey found not just sixth gear but seventh gear to get over the top of Gary Hall. He just rose to another level.

Thorpe Knowing that I would go in behind him, I turned and I think it was the turn when I first got back into the race after Gary had put some distance on me. I had a really good turn and just popped out of the water like a cork. It does take me a while to start making ground, or making up the distance.

With 25 to go, the crowd starts to warm back up and I can hear it. With 15 to go, I remind myself that he is going to be hurting more than I am. He’s a sprinter, I had the background and capacity to do this last leg a bit better than he can. I focused on making sure my stroke was long. With about eight metres to go, I put my head down and just ploughed through, knowing that this was going to be down to the touch.

Australia 3:13.67 WR (Michael Klim 48.18 WR), Chris Fydler (48.48), Ashley Callus (48.71), Ian Thorpe (48.30) defeat the United States 3:13.86 (Anthony Ervin 48.89, Neil Walker 48.31, Jason Lezak 48.42, Gary Hall jnr 48.24).

Final victory, grace in defeat and the famous air guitar: 'When he landed in Australia, that was all over the front page.'

Ian Thorpe comes to the wall ahead of Gary Hall jnr in the 4x100m freestyle relay.Credit: IOC

Fydler There is the horrible moment when you think ‘Shit, I hope none of us broke’. So we are going crazy and you are just waiting for correct weight. When that came up, the crowd was just out of control. When the times came up, it was crazy in there.

The guitar thing was a classic. Michael said it was me that instigated it but I have poor memories of that… it could very well have been. That was another great moment to watch and I think the humour of that was appreciated by most people.

Thorpe Fyds told Klimmy: ‘We should play guitar now’.

Klim I think it was between Fyds and Ian, myself being a bit naive, I just jumped straight at it and probably took it a little bit too far. It’s something people still talk about and remember. I have never celebrated that way ever again. People remember the air guitar relay.

It came about because Gary did a column for Sports Illustrated and he was sponsored by Gibson (guitars). He was actually very complimentary ("My biased opinion says that we will smash them like guitars. Historically the US has always risen to the occasion. But the logic in that remote area of my brain says it won't be so easy for the United States to dominate the waters this time").

He’s a great guy. He got a bit annoyed because the media took that one sentence where he tried to give the sponsors a plug. When he landed in Australia, that was all over the front page.

That’s the drama and theatre of sport and it’s better for characters like Gary. He was the first one to come across and congratulate us as well. They showed a lot of respect and we still have a pretty good friendship with all of those guys, especially Gary and myself.

Anthony Ervin and Gary Hall jr would have their moment, dead heating for first in the 50m freestyle at the Sydney Games. Credit: Dallas Kilponen

An Olympic legacy and an unbreakable bond: 'To this day, people thank me for that moment'

Fydler I can’t really put my finger on what it is about that race that people love and remember. I recognise that it was the first night of an Olympic Games, I know it was a great race to watch and it still is and we conquer the old foe. I feel so fortunate to be part of that. To have four guys swimming at their best on that night and that moment is rare.

Klim For me, it’s a great honour to still be talking about an event that I was part of and people still tell me now about where they were when they watched that race and the pride they felt when we won. We’re not changing the planet but if we can entertain and make people proud, that’s very cool. We swim because we love it and to give people joy. That’s what I cherish the most out of that event… to this day, people thank me for that moment.

Callus: It’s been 20 years now, which I can’t believe. When you experience something like that, you are always going to have a special bond. We don’t call each other every day but we always stay in contact and when you do, you can just tell that special connection is there.

Thorpe I remember the boys quite literally were holding me up. It was overwhelming. I had to really manage my emotions after my win in the 400m freestyle so I allowed myself to enjoy that moment.

I didn’t actually know they (USA) had never been beaten at an Olympics. So it wasn’t until later that I found that out. I guess I didn’t realise the significance of that… I just made the assumption that I had.

I was with my mates and we were able to produce a performance that we would never have been able to produce on our own. And each of us did more for the collective than we could ever expect from ourselves. I think that’s what we shared.

People still - and its usually in each Olympic year - they come up to me and say ‘I’ve started watching all of your YouTube videos, you’re amazing’. And it’s because of that race. It’s that night for them, the 400m but the 4x100m is the race, I think, for the Sydney Olympics.

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