Although Serbian swimmer Milorad Cavic was gliding to the finish, just inches from the gold, Michael Phelps turned out to be the little engine that could.
One more powerful stroke thrust him forward and on to victory.
But up-close onlookers couldn't help but crack a smile or two. It was a bit of a crash landing, after all.
Although his hand smacked into the wall of the pristine "cube" - a last surge of athletic prowess splashed Phelps into Olympic history - to tie Mark Spitz' long-standing record.
But, the grasp for the Gold trinket did not come easy, after-the-fact.
In the wake of a win that was literally snatched out of the clutches of his fierce competitor, the Serbians were so fired up by the biting scenario, that they filed a protest with Olympic Officials so that the governing body could review the video-tape down to the 10-thousandth of a second.
Spoil sports!
And, even as Phelps powered his way to a dramatic finish, a stream of anxious thoughts continued to swim inside his pretty little head.
"I was starting to hurt a little bit with probably the last 10 meters, Phelps said. "That was my last individual race, so I was just trying to finish as strong as I could.”
Phelps’ time was 50.58 seconds - not a world record - but a glorious win nonetheless in view of all the theatrics.
The Baltimore lad has now matched Spitz’s performance in the 1972 Olympic Games (Munich).
Spitz remained quite sports-man-like about the whole turn-of-events.
In fact, he sang the praises of the young Olympic swimmer, earlier this evening.
Without hesitation, Spitz asserted that Phelps was not only the greatest swimmer of all time, but the greatest Olympian of all time, too.
Phelps will return on Sunday to swim in the final event which is a butterfly leg on the 400 medley relay.
If the number eight is as auspicious as the Chinese allege it to be - hopefully - the eighth race on Beijing's home turf will prove to be a lucky experience for Phelps, too.
The world will be tuned in (on the edge of their wide-screen seats) and - just maybe - pi**ing their pants in anticipation of a glorious crowning finale to a week that has been awesome, to say the least!
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