Lezak outduels Bernard in Beijing lunchroom

BEIJING, CHINA — Although from 30 yards away it appeared a near impossibility, somehow American swimmer Jason Lezak managed to outreach French swimmer Alain Bernard for the final banana in the lunchroom at Beijing’s Olympic Village on Monday afternoon.

Lezak and Bernard both began to head for the banana at the same time, although Lezak was trailing significantly at the onset. Even as they came within about 25 meters of the delectable fruit, Lezak still seemed hopelessly behind.

Michael Phelps, on pace for a record eight gold medals, was cheering loudly for his American teammate as he made his way to the fruit basket, and the two swimmers were neck and neck as they reached the banana. Somehow, though, Lezak managed to grab it before Bernard could get his fingers on it.

“It was really great,” Lezak said. “I wanted that banana so badly – not just for me, but for my teammates and the United States of America. I share this with them.”

Bernard, for his part, was left with an apple, and he tried to put on a good face. “An apple is still a great prize, but I can’t lie – I wanted that banana so badly, and in many ways I feel like it was taken from my fingertips. Today is a sad day for France.”

Lezak, however, was still euphoric. “Great day,” he said. “”First to swim a 46.06 to win the 4×100 freestyle relay, and now this. Great freakin’ day.”

It’s going to be tough for this sport to sweep any nations, but it’s still pretty frickin’ cool!