The Epic Men's 4x100m Freestyle Swimming Race - Sydney 2000 Replays | Throwback Thursday

This week's Throwback Thursday video features the first triumph after 36 years of the Australian Swimming team in the men's 4×100 metre freestyle relay in front of their home crowd at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney (AUS). Leading by 0.15 seconds at the final relay exchange, Ian Thorpe was passed by U.S. swimmer Gary Hall, Jr. at the 350 metres mark, but eventually recovered and touched the wall first with an anchor of 48.30 to deliver the Aussie foursome of Michael Klim (48.18), Chris Fydler (48.48), and Ashley Callus (48.74) a gold-medal time in 3:13.67 - Enjoy watching!

What is your favorite Olympic moment of all time? Let us know in the comments below and it might be featured in the next #ThrowbackThursday!


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[Olympics]

What is your favorite Olympic moment of all time? Let us know in the comments below and it might be featured in the next #ThrowbackThursday!

[ryannicholls]

Thorpes swim is still one of the most impressive swims of his career. The fact that he was up against a 100m specialist and he specialised in distance, combined with the fact he had already raced the 400 that day combined with the fact he was only 17 years old makes this almost beyond belief. Sure it’s not the fastest swim of all time. But he was just so calculated, he kept his stroke length and kick through the entire 100m and didn’t panic once. He let the American pull out in front and tire himself out and just backed himself in on the home straight. Amazing.

[Chrissmills]

This was my favorite Olympic moment ever. I remember watching it live and the adrenaline watching Ian Thorpe close in over the last 20m was insane

[marcospeedo]

I was a qualified beach and pool lifeguard at the time of this competition, Gary Hall Jr and Popov were their last Olympic race, Thorpe was the next generation top swimmer the first time in Olympic, the excitement from this video is still here. I am a habitual swimmer, to keep fit and relax, for decades, my freestyle was excelled and learnt from an old video tape by Popov, showing the slow motion of underwater arm stroke which he specially swims slow arm stroke! I spent almost half year day-by-day to get the momentum, finally I get success. It helps me a lot since then. Thank you Popov! Gary Hall Jr! Thorpe! All my swimming friends, in Hong Kong, have not forgotten all your glorious greatness.

[stucumins]

This really was special. Perfect first 100 from Michael Klim, wonderful 2nd 50 by Ian Thorpe, and very strong performances by Fydler and Callus in between. Great to see Brazil on the dais too. Good to see this again, 20 years later.

[FawadBilgrami]

It still feels like yesterday. What a win that was!!! C’mon Aussie C’mon!!

[CL]

As a Dutchman, I shouted at the early hour, my neighbors almost awake when Australia beat that arrogant and self-righteous America! It remains fantastic! Thanks for this upload!

[trev-ve]

Thorpie giving the Olympic gold medallist for the distance a star,
& running him down to win, is my all-time favorite sporting moment. 👍👍👍🌞

[nardiamcphee]

Thank you soo much i remember this night fondly watching it live on tv cheering when the Aussies won one of the best moments for Aussie swimming

[garyh]

I remember watching this moment as a kid and the absolute joy I felt when the impossible was achieved. Well done!

[eesabkhan]

what makes this race more special is the fact that america has never been beaten in this competetion before this.

[NotMyRealName]

I’ll never forget suddenly seeing Thorpe go fully to his legs 😮 like an outboard motor

[ShengYu]

Alot of people talk about Ian Thorpe's last lap. Yes, hes not a 100m specialist, but he was staked with the lead and lost it and took it back. The real impressive part was the first Aussie Michael Klim who swam a world record at the time of 48.14 in the first leg that made the difference.

Side note, this WR of 48.14 lasted only 3 days as it was broken in the semifinals of the 100m freestyle by a swimmer known as The Flying Dutchman who swam 47.84

[lilutsivert]

That was a clutch win at the end but AUSSIES
GOOOO THORPEDO

[LM]

I come back to watch this and it still gives me chills. What an amazing race between Australia and the U.S. the smashing guitars comment by that American swimmer made this win even more deserving. Proud Aussie here 🇦🇺

[ace]

Thanks for this, this is amazing. Omg we're all getting older, time don't stop

[burnedell]

I just can’t believe they won each leg of the race. Besides Klim, everyone of them trailed at some point. Fantastic watch

[mssuziquzi]

This has got to be up there with my all time favorite Olympic moments

[joshrees]

One of my friend Ian Thorpe’s best swimming races

[shawnyoung]

With the Thorepdo it is no shame to lose. USA And Australia have always been the best swimming countries. I dont think americans get upset when any Aussie athlete wins.