Michael Phelps Was Almost Stripped of Beijing Olympic Gold Over Controversial World Aquatics Decision

In his storied career as the most decorated Olympian with 28 medals, including 23 golds, Michael Phelps‘ 2008 Beijing Olympics were a streak of gold, but one race stood out for its drama. Before the race, US-born Serbian swimmer Milorad Čavić stirred things up by saying, “It’d be good for him if he loses. It would be nice if historians talk about Michael Phelps winning seven gold medals and losing the eighth to ‘some guy.’ I’d like to be that guy.” 

Phelps fired back, “When people say things like that, it fires me up more than anything.” And that’s exactly what their race did. The incredibly close finish caused a stir in the swimming world and sparked debates, with even the camera angle making it hard to determine the winner. Let’s talk about that moment 16 years ago when Michael Phelps was almost stripped of his Beijing Olympic gold over a controversial decision by World Aquatics.

The highly debated Olympic race between Michael Phelps and Milorad Čavić

William Saletan’s piece in Slate Magazine in 2008 scrutinized Michael Phelps’ incredible performance at the 2008 Olympics, particularly questioning whether he truly deserved one of his eight gold medals. Specifically, he focused on the 100-meter butterfly race, where Phelps narrowly beat Milorad Čavić by one hundredth of a second. He wrote, “Nobody who saw the race in real time, including Phelps’ mother, thought he had won. Yet the scoreboard showed him beating Cavic by one-hundredth of a second.”

Saletan argued that despite Phelps being declared the winner based on the touchpad sensor that Phelps activated slightly before Čavić, the visual evidence from the race suggested Čavić might have touched the wall first. Cornel Marculescu, head of the World Swimming Federation, FINA, emphasized there was “absolutely no doubt” Phelps won, citing the touch that stops the clock. Saletan, however, criticized this assurance, pointing out that the touchpad only registers the swimmer who applies enough force to activate it, not necessarily the one who physically touches first.

He highlighted the discrepancies and pointed out how Marculescu told the New York Times that the threshold was 3 kilograms per square centimeter, but the FINA vice president said the threshold was 1.5 kilograms. Ultimately, Saletan’s skepticism was rooted in the belief that while the touchpad system is more precise than older methods, it still leaves room for uncertainty. He concluded, “And that’s the point: Even the most precise system leaves a gray area. In this case, it’s the area between touching and pressing. Did Phelps beat Cavic to the wall? We’ll never know.” As we reflect on this debate, let’s re-cap the race and see how Michael Phelps’ fans defended his legacy as a titan of swimming.

How fan continue to defend ‘The Baltimore Bullet’ years later

On August 16, the 100-meter butterfly final at the 2008 Olympics became a hot topic of controversy. Milorad Čavić of Serbia took an early lead, with Phelps lagging in 7th place at the halfway mark. However, Phelps surged forward in the final stretch, resulting in a nail-biting finish. When the race ended, there was confusion over who touched the pad first. After careful review, Phelps was declared the winner by a mere one hundredth of a second. Phelps won his seventh gold medal of the Games with a time of 50.58 seconds, setting an Olympic record and edging out Čavić in one of the most debated races of his career.

Theswammers YouTube channel shared old footage last year that reignited passion and support for Phelps. One fan passionately stated, “He finished first, fair and square. Yes, it was a close race, but the touchpad never lies.” Another person provided a technical explanation in the debate, saying, “No, he actually finished first because the touchpad can’t be swayed by fast-moving water from the extra stroke. It seems he finished second, but the other guy’s hands are in a different spot underwater than it appears from above water.”

As we reflect on this debate, it’s clear that while one of Phelps’ 2008 victories sparked discussion, his 22 additional Olympic golds have solidified his legacy as the most decorated swimmer in history. What are your thoughts on the race and William Saletan’s debate? Share in the comments below!