Despite Completing The Slowest 100m Freestyle Ever In Olympics, Track Star Became An Overnight Hero

It is every athlete’s dream to participate in the Olympic games. Winning a medal at the Olympics is a matter of pride for the athlete and the entire nation. However, not every glory is won by winning. This is what happened in the case of Swimmer Eric Moussambani. He did not win any medals at the Olympic games for swimming, yet he shot to instant popularity on the internet. Learn about this great athlete’s unlikely story of internet fame.

Eric Moussambani Malonga is a swimmer from Equatorial Guinea. He earned international fame for his performance at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games held in Sydney and entered the games as a wild card entry authorized by the International Olympic Committee. This was the swimmer’s first dive into an Olympic-sized pool. Unprepared for the competition, he stood on the diving pad as the race began. However, he quickly grasped the situation and leaped into the pool. He finished the race in one minute and 52.72 seconds, which is the record slow time. Hence, this earned Eric a unique nickname in the media.

Eric The Eel: The Events That Led To His Popularity

Eric was competing against Nigeria’s Karim Bare and Tajikstan’s Farkhod Oripov. Both of these swimmers were disqualified from the 100-meter race for false starts. Seemingly, Eric got confused when both his competitors were disqualified and didn’t realize that the race had already begun. The large audience dazed him, overwhelming his nerves and leaving him unsure of what to do. Officials instructed Eric to finish the race on his own.

He jumped in anxiously in lane number 5 and gave it his best. He knew that he would win by default. The crowd looked in anticipation, knowing that a new history was in the making. He swam the first heat confidently despite his lack of proper training. His struggles began in the return lap.

Eric’s stamina was completely spent, and his breathing became heavy. The crowd cheered him along, asking him not to give up. Eric used all of his energy to complete the last 20 to 30 meters. The crowd got to their feet and cheered for him loudly. The swimmer showed his sportsmanship spirit in an interview with The Guardian, saying, “Gold medal is not everything in the Olympics,” and that he was “happy with what happened, it was all worth it.” Eric was eliminated due to his record-slow time. However, the swimmer has not given up hope.

Eric Moussambani Vowed To Return To The Olympics

Eric showed his resilience when he vowed to return to his home country and train harder. He wished to participate in another Olympic Games and regain his honor. Netizens praised the man’s spirit, particularly upon discovering there isn’t even a training pool in his country. Instead, he would practice his laps in rivers teeming with crocodiles and also sharks.

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The Olympic Games have created the careers of many sportsmen. But never before has an underdog earned this level of fame. Eric Moussambani’s story is one of tremendous perseverance and will also act as an inspiration for many athletes to come.

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