Pre-coverage of the World Championships is sponsored by Wylas Timing. Each week until the start of the swimming competition at the world championships, Swimming World will look back at a previous performance at the world championships that still carries significance.
By Jeff Commings, Swimming World Senior Writer
When the best swimmers in the world get together to compete in a 100-meter race, rarely does the winner take the gold medal by more than a few tenths. But Ian Crocker defied that in the 2005 world championship final of the 100 butterfly, beating Michael Phelps by 1.2 seconds.
Crocker had a series of unfortunate events at the 2004 Olympics, coming down with illness just before the meet started. Luckily, the 100 butterfly was the second-to-last day of the meet, allowing him time to recover, but he never got to the level he needed to take down Phelps. Crocker won bronze, but it was clear he was looking for revenge.
While Phelps was backing off on training a bit in 2005, Crocker was turning up the heat in his first year as a postgraduate swimmer. With the pressures of collegiate swimming out of the way, Crocker could focus only on the world championships.
Photo Courtesy: Wylas Timing
Crocker got a bit of a warmup in the 2005 worlds in Montreal with a silver medal in the 50 butterfly behind a world record by Roland Schoeman on the second day of the meet. Crocker posted an American record in the event, which would last four years when USA Swimming finally recognized American records in the 50 fly when Bryan Lundquist posted a 22.91.
The 100 butterfly final was three days later, and it was shaping up to be a rematch of the Olympic final. Crocker qualified first after the semifinals, with Phelps second. Lurking in fifth place was Ukraine’s Andriy Serdinov, the Olympic bronze medalist. On the line were not only the world championship medals, but a sub-51 second swim, which hadn’t been done since Crocker’s world record of 50.76 at the 2004 Olympic Trials.
Crocker took the lead by half a body length at the start over Phelps, not a surprise given Crocker’s amazing speed. Crocker needed to build a big lead over Phelps in the first 50 meters to avoid Phelps’ surge in the final 50, and at the halfway point, Crocker had a seven-tenths advantage over Phelps.
But something amazing happened in the final 50 meters. Phelps started to kick into his extra gear, but Crocker showed that he had something left as well. Instead of reeling Crocker in, Phelps was losing ground to Crocker. Though Crocker had won a few big races against Phelps, Crocker was always slower on the second 50 meters than Phelps. Not in Montreal.
In the final 10 meters, Crocker looked like Secretariat finishing the final stretch at the Belmont Stakes horse race in 1973. He was untouchable, and was a full body length ahead of the field, winning with a 50.40. It broke his world record by more than three tenths of a second, and he remained the only swimmer to break the 51-second barrier. Phelps was timed in 51.65, while Serdinov captured bronze again with a 52.08.
“When you’re racing (Phelps), you have to always assume it’s going to take a world record to win,” Crocker said after the race. “It’s faster than I thought I could go. You can’t put limits on yourself.”
Video: Ian Crocker wins 100 butterfly at 2005 world championships
As was the case with many world records, Crocker’s 100 fly mark was taken down in 2009 in the full-body techsuit era when more than 100 world records were set. Though the sub-50 second swims by Phelps and Milorad Cavic in the 2009 world championships were astounding, it’s worth noting that Crocker’s 50.40 from the 2005 worlds remains the only swim in the top 10 performances in 100 butterfly history not done in a polyurethane suit.
Even more remarkable is that no one has been able to get within three tenths of that time in a textile suit. Phelps has posted a few swims in the 50.7 range, and he’s the only swimmer other than Crocker to get under 51 seconds in a textile suit. Ten years later, it’s fair to say that Crocker’s 50.40 has become the equivalent of Bob Beamon’s long jump in 1968 or Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point basketball game in 1962. It remains one of those sporting accomplishments that is difficult to replicate and always appreciated.
Previous world championships retrospectives:
Cynthia Woodhead blazes trail with 200 free victory in 1978
The first 50 freestyle at the world championships
Petra Schneider sets 400 IM world record in 1982
Ryan Lochte-Michael Phelps 200 IM from 2011
Le Jingyi and the Chinese women at the 1994 world championships
Love him!
I loved watching Crocker swim and have always been a big fan. If ever there was a “natural”, it is Crocker.
He’s a Saint!! Only a few of us know why. Beijing 2008!!
please tell???
I think John means Athens in 2004, when Ian was the fastest American butterflyer, but let Michael Phelps take the butterfly spot in the finals of the 400 medley relay. This needed to be determined BEFORE the final of the 100 fly.
I think you have that backwards. Phelos earned the spot, but gave it to Crocker. If you watch the race video, it’s Crocker swimming in the final, not Phelps.
Phelps wasn’t wearing a polyurethane suit when he did his 49 in 2009. That’s why he grabbed the suit when he won.
One of my favorite swimmers and races.
Aaron,
In the 2009 race you write of Phelps was wearing a LZR. That suit had poly panels all over. It just wasn’t completely poly like the Arena or Jaked. Crocker in 05 though wore old lycra fastskin.
It’s funny and thrilling. Last night I was reading Michael’s autobiography about this race and nice to compare my imaginary race with the original video 🙂
One fine young man, Texas swimming, he set bar for many young swimmers ! Thank you Ian !
One fine young man, Texas swimming, he set bar for many young swimmers ! Thank you Ian !
Great, great swimmer! An even better person in my mind. Watching Ian when he at that time of his career was stunning.
Nothing beats the bad man team of Aaron peirsol, Brendan Hansen, Ian Crocker/ Michael Phelps and Jason Lezak.
Hands down the best race I have had the privilege of seeing go down live. Crocker was on fire that meet.