Phelps vs Thorpe vs van den Hoogenband - Men's Freestyle 200m at Athens 2004 | Throwback Thursday 

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Ian Thorpe was something else. The way he could glide effortlessly through the water. He reminds me of Roger Federer, just effortless movement.

What a gracious loser Pieter VDH was. Still smiling after losing his 200m crown. Respect.

Ian Thorpe is universally admired here in Australia. He is what a true champion is...supremely talented, hard working, a nice person, gracious and humble.

5:55 the scream of History that becomes Legend. Ian Thorpe the Master, Ian Thorpe the King. We’ll never see such a PERFECT stroke again.

看Ian Thorpe游泳就是賞心悅目!

Three legends of world swim in a race. This was really the race of the century

I love Thorps stroke. I could watched it forever.

Thorpe always appeared strangely unhurried. He's one of my favourite swimmers of all time.

Olympic coming in hot with these throwbacs

The best ever 200m mens freestyle race.👍

Wow what a lineup. And what a finish. Fantastic. Years of hard work rewarded.

Thorpe's final turn - what a monster!

i mean Thorpe looked like he just jumped to the water and ended the race effortlessly, he didn't even need to catch his breathe.

Ian Thorpe's swimming is just like a professional fish's swimming

The great thorpe with all grace in swimming

Hackett. phelps.thorpe.pieter van den hoogenband raja kolam renang tiada tandingan legends selama nya....

Ian Thorpe with his iconic long sleeve.

Its a shame Thorpie retired so early. He was the best n the greatest. No one came close. Sydney Olympic my favourite where Thorpie took gold at a very young age n Phelps took bronze.

What's remarkable about the 2004 Athens Olympics is that we had two of the greatest Olympians to be competing. Usain Bolt, and Michael Phelps. Both went on to be the most dominant athletes in their sport. Easily two of the most famous Olympians ever. The highest achieving Olympians ever. The Greatest of the greatest.

What an incredible field.

About 35 or 36 Olympic Gold Medals in that pool.

THORPEDO!! 👍👍💪💪

Everything that Grant Hackett had achieved and they introduce him as "silver medalist in the 400m" ...

Thorpe was a like a tornado in the water. Destroyed the race.

This is the great game for all the time

Ian and Pieter were sooo fine

amazing

Ян Торп-лучший спринтер в истории плавание

All Legends Swimmers.

Got no idea why this is the race of the century

what a line up

"The race of the century."

Thorpe is an amazing swimmer for sure but Phelps was a teenager when this race took place, and already then, he had the best underwaters (by a lot). A harbinger of the greatness to come... : )

Cuando eran muy Competidas las pruebas porque los 3 tenían buen nivel. Muy Parejos. S/todo el Torpedo con El Delfín Holandés.

Thorpe is probably my favorite swimmer of all time and this is a great race, but I always thought it was slightly unfair to Phelps to call this "the race of the century". Phelps was far more versatile than either Thorpe or PVDH, who were both solely freestylists. Phelps' best events were probably the two IMs and the 200 fly. Phelps was a great 200 freestylist, but it was not his speciality. Phelps would have handily beaten either of these other men in any non-freestyle event. Also, this is still very early in Phelps' career, he was only 18 here and hit his peak years later in 2007 and 2008. Meanwhile, Thorpe was just coming down off his 2000-2001 peak and PVDH was basically at his peak. Also, to be fair to PVDH he was better at the 100 free than the 200 free. So this is Thorpe near his peak in one of his best events (probably second only to the 400 free) swimming against two swimmers in a slightly off event for them.

Michael phelpssssssssssssssss!

So odd to see an outdoor Olympic pool 😝

I don't think grant was able to hack it

he is now a swimming pool cleaner..i heard anyway good luck to your business

Nice

Flying Dutchman!!!

Thorpe win because he had the magic swimming suite,he never swim just in a pair of"trousers"!! Show us the chest Thorpe!!!!😄😄

Ian Thorpe’s swimming style is one of the best I’ve ever seen, so smooth and natural, he literally glides through the water!

A legend past his prime A legend in his prime A legend in the making All in one race Nice

Thorpedo did it all on that last turn. He was making up ground by the 150 mark but that final turn was absolutely fantastic and he went like a slingshot into the lead. Brilliant.

Ian Thorpe always looks so effortless but goes so fast! Saves the legs for the final lap. Also great sportsmanship from Pieter.

Sometimes the athlete’s congratulating each other seems cringe and fake, but you can tell vdh is genuine and humble. Champion.

Brembilla, Hackett, Phelps, Hoogenband, Thorpe... superstar race!

I fell in love with swimming after watching Thorpe in Sydney Olympics.Phelps may be the greatest ever but Thorpedo is the legend you would love to see.

Before phelps.. there was thorpe...

Ian Thorpe looks like Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Still remember watching this live on tv when i was a kid. The most legendary race.

How legendary is this race, especially since it happened in Athens, Greece. The birth place of the olympics.

IF THORPE COMPETED IN BEIJING, HE WILL MAKE PHELPS LIKE A RAG DOLL. THORPE IS "THE" MOST EFFORTLESS BUT FASTEST STROKE IN HISTORY. FULL STOP

Ian Thorpe is my all time favorite! His 4 world records in 4 consecutive days in amazing!

Phelps should thank Thorpe for retiring early due to personal issues.

Didnt know Zlatan was also a legendary swimmmer

Ian Thorpe the australian torpedo... he was great

Love watching this even though I don’t know how to swim 🏊🏻‍♀️

Omg ians swim suit must have taken forever to get on and off

Not a bad event when Grant Hackett doesn't even rate a mention in the headline

When everyone is wearing shoes, Thorpe appears barefoot as a jedi. It illustrates what is like to be unique, a legend. Thorpedo.

Phelps was only 18 here and he won a bronze vs the world record holder and the reignjng olympic champ. Won a total of 6 Golds and 2 Bronze this games.

If Thorpe didn’t retire early for his personal issue, we could do Pele-Maradona or Jordan-Lebron debate over Thorpe and Phelps

Thorpe just glides through the water so effortlessly its almost a joke

Always a pleasure returning and watching THE race again. Ian Thorpe Greatest stroke of all time, he did in swimming what Federer, Jordan, and Senna did in their sport, reaching effectiveness with stylistic perfection of the gesture.

Ian Thorpe suffered life threatening depression following his Success. I wonder why we do not learn about PTSD whether olympic gold or vietnam service ??

I’ve never seen such perfect form in my life than Ian Thropes freestyle!

I wish Thorpe didn't quit swimming, he would have kept Phelps nice and humble at Beijing

I was among the spectators.... unimaginable nowadays!

What a field..Thorpie, Van Hoogenband, Phelps, Hackett, Keller. Amazing race. Thank you for posting.

I was there... the most amazing sensation in my life...

What a great race. Ian Thorpe was a true Champion. Very gracious and humble too. 💯🥇💫

Ian Thorpe is the GOAT

I have a picture of him winning and throwing his arm up . A one off. Given to me for my 50 th bday. (Signed).🥇

Thorpedo is s graceful in his action...he seems so fluid and effortless....my all time fav...miss him still

To explain why Thorpe could glide effortlessly above the water , we need to have a look at his special training in the mini pool that was unique at that time . He was the first in the world to implement that kind of training . It was all about measuring the water flow around the body . Add to this his slim body , his height ,and his legs . He had a very unique leg movement in the free-style that slides the water from the dead zone which is at the end of the back towards the end of the body generating the perfect wave that helps a lot to keep the whole body gliding with no water resistance at all . This is the key for his free-style success (A very unique leg movement) . Adding to this that he had the longest arm stroke in history . All of that made him the unbeatable killer shark in water . In my opinion he's the swimming icon af all times .

Some will say if Ian Thorpe hadn't retired so young Michael Phelps wouldn't have won the amount of medals he had won. And I agree 👍

Phelps chin and jaw just kept getting bigger. Interesting.

The best part for me was no commentary. Such a great way to watch the race. Thorpe makes it look easy.

Una gran carrera con estos excelentes nadadores (Thorpe, van den Hoogenband, Phelps, Hackett, Brambilla). Ian Thorpe tiene una magia que lo hace el mejor nadador del mundo para mi, es un increíble. Pieter es un gran competidor. Falta Popov para está super carrera.

Great to see the three legends race against each other, Popov is the only swimmer that could stand next to these three. Definitely the race of the century, it's so rare to get three all time greatest athletes actually race against each other. Can't think of another time that has happened in sport. Pity Thorpe retired at such a young age (we all know why), it would have been amazing to see the rivalry go on for another couple of Olympic games, especially against Phelps. Would Phelps have finally got one back on Thorpe in a freestyle race? That's the unknown question.

The Thorpedo!

That embrace by Peter at the end was beautiful!

If Hoogenband would have been an American he would have added about 10 or 11 relay olympic gold medals to his total.

Remember Thorpe was so good some thought he’d been genetically engineered with mutant feet🦶for swimming lol What could’ve his X Men name been I wonder?

Magnificent swimmers in this event. Hackett, Phelps, Hoogenband, Keller, Thorpe. Stacked race.

Ian Thorpe undoubtedly the greatest swimmer !!!

Big 3 三大強人: Thorpe 科比 (King of 200m/400m Freestyle) van den Hooganband 雲迪賀根班 (King of 100m/200m Freestyle) Phleps 菲比斯 (King of Individual Medley, Butterfly and 200m Freestyle)

Thorpy would still qualify even now he would still make the finals with a bit of training Ex competitive swimmer here although not in this class😊👍

This time would have won the Paris Olympics 2 free. Wild

If Thorpe had the technology suits of 2009 the 400m freestyle would never be broken again. I’m sure he would have gone to an alien territory

What a beautiful stroke Thorpe had💪

Thorpe’s swimming style is Roger Federer at Wimbledon. Smooth AF

Ian Thorpe beat Phelps almost one body length at this race (Athen 2004), what a legend Aussie swimmer.

Unfortunately Phelps wasn’t at his peak

Love it when there’s no idiot NBC commentary. ✔️🙌🏻

Amazing to think Thorpe worked out halfway "Only two things I need to do - relax and work harder". He was just so methodical, the first two laps putting himself in the minds of the guys next to him just to work out when the time to strike was.

Ah... I miss Thorpe.