31 Mar 2012

Slow-coach Eric the Eeel back at Olympic Games

7:21 pm on 31 March 2012

One of the Olympics' most famous losers, 'Eric the Eel', will be a part of the London Games, passing on his knowledge to the Equatorial Guinea swimming team.

One of the Olympics' most famous losers, 'Eric the Eel', will be a part of the London Games, passing on his knowledge to the Equatorial Guinea swimming team.

Eric Moussambani became an overnight celebrity at the Sydney Games in 2000 when he slowly made his way through a 100 metres freestyle heat.

He has now been appointed as a coach by the country's Olympic committee.

Moussambani will combine his job in the oil industry with his coaching duties, according to the government's press website.

It is a turn around in fortunes for Moussambani, who had complained of being shunned and ridiculed in Equatorial Guinea after becoming a cult figure around the world for his Olympic endeavours and lack of swimming acumen.

In Sydney, Moussambani swam his heat on his own after the other two competitors were disqualified for false starting.

Having never swum competitively in a 50m pool, Moussambani flagged near the end of his solo heat and appeared to almost sink as he approached the finish.

Roared on by the 17,000-strong crowd, his time of 1:52.72, was the slowest seen at an Olympics and more than a minute behind the world record. But he received a standing ovation and instant fame as reporters dubbed him 'Eric the Eel'.