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One of the best Olympic moments
University of Georgia swim coach Jack Bauerle will serve as an assistant coach for the U.S. women's Olympic swim team in Sydney. In his twenty-one years at Georgia, Bauerle's swimmers have won 17 NCAA individual titles and three NCAA relay titles, and the women's swim team won the NCAA championships in 1999 and 2000. Check in with Bauerle on CNNSI.com throughout the Olympics.
September 24, 2000
How was the last night of the swimming competition?
It was something to behold. Rocking is an understatement. I don't think I've ever been in a stadium or at a basketball game or a football game where the crowd was so electric and energized. Seats for the final session were going for as much as $1,500. It was a hard ticket.
The Australians hold the 1,500-meter freestyle near and dear to their hearts. They have a long storied success in distance swimming, and Grant Hackett and Kieren Perkins didn't disappoint the home crowd by finishing first and second. We set a world record in the women's 400 medley relay -- smashed it by about three seconds. Then we backed that up with a men's world record. Ed Moses became the first man ever to go under a minute on the breast leg of the relay.
It's just a good feeling. In eight days of competition we experienced trials, tribulation, victory and a little bit of agony here and there. It was a tremendous meet for the U.S. We had a team and staff meeting afterwards, and we all agreed that we might not see anything like this again. To swim in a country where swimming is this important is a privilege, and to do so in the Olympics is even more spectacular. There were 15 world records, and we set 15 or 16 American records. It was without question one of the best Olympic moments we've had in the history of swimming. When all the dust settles, this one will be talked about for a long time.
What is the team doing now that the meet is over? Today I think most of us are just unwinding and are looking forward to enjoying some other events. It's been a long haul for this team. The Olympic trials, our training and the actual Olympics were all compacted in about six weeks time. It's been emotional, not just here, but going all the way back to the trials. The athletes need a deserved rest. So do the coaches.
What is one thing you plan to do before leaving Sydney? I grew up doing a little surfing, and there was no way I was going to leave here without surfing in Australia. I did that this morning. The water is beautiful, and the surfing was great.
When do you plan on returning to the United States? I'm coming back two days from now to tend to the fort. We've got to get things rolling with my Georgia team. I'm sure they are doing fine without me, but it's time to get back.
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