The US were timed in three minutes 8.24 seconds, shattering by nearly four seconds the world record that their B team had set the previous night. France won the silver in 3:08.32. Australia, benefitting from a world-record setting lead-off swim of 47.24 from Eamon Sullivan, were third.

Bernard, who in a matter of minutes lost the 100 world record to Sullivan and the relay gold to Lezak, was bereft. He broke down in tears in the pool.

Though not well-known outside of swimming circles, Lezak, a native Southern Californian, has a reputation in USA Swimming for being the Mariano Rivera of sprinters. “Jason is the most phenomenal closer I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Cullen Jones, who swam the third leg.

After making the turn, Lezak said he momentarily lost the courage of his convictions. Bernard had a 0.6 of a second lead and Lezak was not sure he could reel him in. “I’m not going to lie,” he said. “The thought really crossed my mind for a split-second, ‘There’s no way.’”

Then he reminded himself that he was representing his country and this was the Olympics and he was not getting any younger. “In five seconds I was thinking all these things,” Lezak said. “And I got a super charge.”

With his surge, Lezak kept alive Phelps’s drive to break Spitz’s record and collect a million-dollar bonus from Speedo. Asked if he would demand a cut if Phelps succeeds, Lezak grinned and joked: “We’ve already talked about that.”

... contd.