100 metres Butterfly, Men

Swimming World noted that “The comeback was complete.” They were referring to Pablo Morales, who won gold in the 100 fly in Barcelona. Morales was the world record holder, from 1986, but the victory here was somewhat of a surprise. He had been favored in the 100 fly at Los Angeles in 1984, but lost out to German Michael Groß. Then in 1988, again with a solid chance at gold, he failed to even make the US Olympic team. After Seoul he retired from swimming and entered Cornell Law School, but in November 1991, after his mother’s death he was inspired to return to the pool, and was able to make the US team for Barcelona, despite training for less than a year.

In the prelims, Morales led with 53.59, followed closely by Poland’s Rafał Szukała. Morales led out in the final, and appeared to have the gold, but the Pole came on strongly at the end and the result was in doubt, until the scoreboard showed that Morales had won by 0.03 seconds, with Szukała second. The bronze went to the defending gold medalist, Suriname’s Anthony Nesty.