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If Biondi, 27, lost his Tarzan title to Popov, he nonetheless collected gold in a 4 X 100-m freestyle relay. That brought his career medal total to 11, tying him with the legendary Spitz. Meanwhile, the world's most famous woman swimmer, American Janet Evans, collected a silver in the 400-m freestyle, a race she was expected to win. Grinning bravely, she told the press, "It's not the end of the world: the sun will come up tomorrow." But within moments, the 1988 triple-gilded champion was in tears. "You don't understand the pressure that's placed on athletes here," she said. "I gave it everything I had." Two days later, however, the sun did come up for her as she roared to gold in the 800-m free. "Four years is a long time to train six hours a day," she reminisced. "The bad times make the good times feel so good."
Overall, the much touted U.S. women's team bagged five gold medals, fewer than expected. Strong competition came from Hungarian Krisztina Egerszegi, a coquettish 17-year-old whose iron discipline -- as well as her powerful backstroke and individual medley races -- won her three golds. Her long, blue- polished nails helped her "grab the water," she said. Two 14-year-old sensations, Japanese gold-medal breaststroker Kyoko Iwasaki and German silver and bronze freestyler Franziska Van Almsick showed mettle that belied their shy manners. The Chinese women also mounted a powerful challenge, with Li / Linh, a 20-year-old Jiangsu native, setting a new world record in the 200-m individual medley. Noticeably huskier than their Western or Japanese counterparts, the Chinese were repeatedly forced to deny doping rumors, many of them spread by U.S. officials. Midstream, in response to the grousing, authorities changed the random testing pattern to include each winner.
No longer overshadowed by the charismatic Biondi, with his Greek-god looks and unbeatable speed, other members of the U.S. men's team swept to victory with a swagger. Hopping, skipping and punching the air with his fist, Nelson Diebel made no effort to restrain his delight at winning the 100-m breaststroke. His shaved head wrapped in a Stars-and-Stripes scarf, the Princeton University undergrad cried, "It's like a drug! It's the best high you could ever get!" Diebel should know. Between ages 12 and 16 he was a heavy drinker and marijuana smoker; then he was rescued by a disciplinarian swimming coach. "I was hyper and self-destructive," Diebel said. "Swimming turned my life around."
Three remarkable comebacks also buoyed up the U.S. team. Pablo Morales, a 1984 silver medalist, had retired after failing to make the 1988 Olympic team. Enrolled in law school, he missed the thrill of competition. About a year ago, he began training again and at 27 won his first gold in the 100-m butterfly. "It was my time at last," he said, "a dream come true." The drive to recover from past disappointment also fired up Mike Barrowman, who placed fourth in the Seoul 200-m breaststroke. Last week he captured the gold, breaking his own world record. As for Melvin Stewart, who came in fifth in the 1988 Olympic 200-m butterfly, defeat "haunted me," he said, choking up at a press conference. "I had nightmares." Last week, after four hard years of training, he finally won the Olympic title.