Jason Lezak: Swimmer Of The Beijing Games

Now that the competition is over, my vote for best swimmer in the Beijing Olympics goes to Jason Lezak.

Michael Phelps has his eight gold medals and has made Olympic history that may never be equaled. But without Lezak, Phelps’ quest for a swep of all of his events would have ended after one gold medal.

Nothing disparing to Phelps. His performance in Beijing will be preserved in Olympic history.

But remember a week ago?

Lezak overtook French team anchor Alain Bernard in the  final 25 meters to give Phelps his second gold medal while recording the fastest 100-meter freestyle split in history (46.06) and completing the Americans’ world-record effort nearly four seconds faster than the previous mark.

Lezak, 32, the oldest male swimmer in the Olympics, also anchored the gold medal-winning U.S. Team in the 4x100 medley relay, allowing Phelps to complete his gold medal quest.

It was likely Lezak’s final Olympic performance, and while Phelps will reap the financial rewards, Lezak will be a little like cyclist George Hincapie.

Hincapie the only cyclist who rode as a teammate on all of Amstrong’s seven overall victories at the Tour de France. Hincapie had his moments, including a sage win. But he was the teammate who often catapulted Armstrong into a position to win.

Lezak and Hincapie are the kind of athletes who should be the most revered.