VOA标准英语2008年-Swimming Records Annihilated at Beijing's Water

American swimming great Michael Phelps remains¹ on track to win an unprecedented² eight gold medals at a single Olympics. VOA's Jim Stevenson was at China's National Aquatic³ Center as Phelps relied on three other teammates Monday to win a thrilling relay⁴ event.
　
US men's 4x100 relay gold medalists from left: Cullen Jones, Jason Lezak, Michael Phelps and Garrett Weber-Gale, 10 Aug 2008

The American quartet clocked a world record time of 3:08.42 to win the men's 4 x 100 meter freestyle race. But obliterating⁵ the previous record by nearly four seconds was not the story, as five of the eight teams were below the previous mark (3:12.23).

The U.S. men found themselves trailing perhaps the strongest French team ever. Jason Lezak was the final American in the pool, and he was about a full body length behind former 100-meter freestyle world record holder⁶ Alain Bernard at the final turn.

Realizing he might not catch up, Lezak rose to the challenge.

"The thought really crossed my mind for a split⁷ second - 'there is no way' [I am going to catch up]. And then I changed," he said. "I said 'you know what, it is really ridiculous [to think that]. I am at the Olympics and I am here for the United States of America. I do not care how bad it hurts, I am going just to go out there and put it.' And honestly, in like five seconds I was thinking all these things. I just got a super charge, and just took it from there."

Touching⁸ the wall by a fingertip or less, Lezak and his teammates edged the French by .008 of a second to regain⁹ the Olympic title they owned from 1964 to 1996. The win gave Phelps his second gold medal in as many days.

Another world record fell in the men's 100-meter breaststroke when Kosuke Kitajima touched the wall in 58.91. Through an interpreter, the Japanese champion says he was thrilled to achieve in Beijing what he could not four years ago in Athens.

"It was a higher level fight for me. And in that sense I was able to break my record," he said. "I was able to race fast. And I am full of emotion compared to last time [in Athens]."
　
Gold medal winner Rebecca Adlington of Great Britain stands on podium during medal ceremony in Beijing, 11 Aug 2008

Rebecca Adlington became the first British woman in 48 years to win an Olympic swimming gold. American Katie Hoff was the favorite in the 400-meter freestyle race. But Adlington was inspired by a mental image.

"The medal around my neck. That really was my motivation," she said. "And I could not see anyone past Katie [Hoff]. I did not what was going over on that side of the pool. So I saw Katie, and I said let's just try and just catch her and keep with her."

Adlington's time of 4:03.22 edged Hoff by .007 of one second. Another British swimmer, Joanne Jackson, placed third (4:03.52).

Australian Lisbeth Trickett emerged¹⁰ the winner of the women's 100-meter butterfly final.

"To come in here and swim and personal best time at an Olympic final is more than I could have hoped," she said. "The best thing for me is that I have equaled what I have done at Athens."

Another world record was set in the pool during a preliminary¹¹ heat. Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe set the 100-meter backstroke standard in 58.77, one-tenth of a second faster than the previous best.

 

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

3 aquatic   

adj.水生的，水栖的

参考例句：

• Aquatic sports include swimming and rowing.水上运动包括游泳和划船。
• We visited an aquatic city in Italy.我们在意大利访问过一个水上城市。

4 relay   

n.接力赛，中继转播（设备）；vt.转述，转播

参考例句：

• They will relay your message.他们会转达你的口信。
• This metal tower is used to relay television signals to distant villages.这个金属塔是用于向遥远的村子转播电视讯号的。

5 obliterating   

v.除去( obliterate的现在分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭

参考例句：

• Michael smoked the competition, obliterating field in most of his events. 迈克尔让比赛放光，几乎淹没了他所参加的大多数项目。 来自互联网
• He heard Pam screaming.The noise became obliterating.Then solid darkness descended. 在一片混乱中，他听到了帕姆的尖叫。接下来，噪音消失了，黑暗降临了。 来自互联网

6 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

7 split   

n.劈开，裂片，裂口；adj.分散的；v.分离，分开，劈开

参考例句：

• Who told you that Mary and I had split up?谁告诉你玛丽和我已经离婚了？
• The teacher split the class up into six groups.老师把班级分成6个小组。

8 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

9 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

10 emerged   

vi. 浮现, (由某种状态)脱出, (事实)显现出来

参考例句：

• They emerged from the church into the bright daylight. 他们走出教堂来到明亮的日光下。
• The swimmer emerged from the lake. 游泳者从湖水中浮出来。

11 preliminary   

n.初步行动，准备，初步措施；adj.初步的，开始的，预备的

参考例句：

• They are taking preliminary steps in preparation for a possible war.他们正在为应付一场可能的战争做初步的准备。
• A physical examination is a preliminary to joining the army.体格检查是参军的初步。