What was ridiculous - or at least impossibly audacious - were the logistics of the attempt.

Michael Phelps lifted himself from the pool at about 8:50 Monday night, having swum four races in 24 hours. Chancing ground-breaking greatness requires unusual talent and sacrifice. This was pushing it.

So was this:

IN THE FINALS

On Tuesday morning, United States men were the top qualifiers for the finals of the 800-meter freestyle relay, but Cincinnatian Dan Ketchum must wait until the afternoon to see if he will swim in the finals Tuesday night. The U.S is a favorite to win at least a silver medal in the event. Ketchum, who attended Sycamore High, swam the third leg of the heat. He said afterward, "I'm not sure I left it all out there. I should be a little more tired." Members of the finals team will be announced by about 8 a.m. Cincinnati time.

After finishing third to Thorpe's first in the 2004 Olympics' greatest race, the 200-meter freestyle, Phelps had to linger on the pool deck until 8:15, for the medal ceremony and photos. At 8:45, Phelps was back on the blocks, ready to swim a semifinal in the 200-meter butterfly.

The wonder isn't that Phelps didn't defeat Thorpe, arguably the best middle-distance swimmer in history. It's that nobody had to fish the poor kid out of the water.

Said Phelps' coach, Bob Bowman, "To swim a very emotional race like the 200 free, then do all he had to do (before) the 200 fly, he exceeded my expectations."

Phelps easily qualified for the 200 butterfly final, which he will swim today, along with the 800-meter freestyle relay. When he eats, sleeps and breathes is anybody's guess.

Maybe we'll lay off him now. It was Phelps who started all the talk of seven golds, maybe eight. It was Phelps who said again Monday night he hopes to take swimming into the mainstream of American spectator sports. Those who dare greatly sometimes pay for their words.

But he's a kid. A seemingly nice, genuine 19-year-old who admits to having watched tapes of Thorpe's races since he was 13. Who clapped for Thorpe on the medal stand, as the gold was being draped around Thorpe's neck. Who said, utterly without guile, "It's an honor winning one gold medal."

What were you doing when you were 19?

"This is a whole lot different from (Olympic) trials," Phelps decided. "A lot more emotionally draining. It takes a lot out of you race to race."

Given the depth and quality of the swimming talent now, it's not a leap to suggest no one will win seven gold medals at one Olympics again, the way Mark Spitz did 32 years ago. "The logistics," Bowman said. "It's tough. It definitely deserves the respect it gets."

In the 200, Phelps beat his personal best by six-tenths of a second. He did all he could in an event not considered among his best. He never had a chance. He was in third place halfway through the first 50-meter lap. He stayed there the whole race. Pieter van den Hoogenband led the first 150 meters, just ahead of Thorpe. Thorpe burst past the Dutchman early in the last lap. He beat Phelps by six-tenths of a second, and now has seven of the 10 fastest 200 freestyle times in history.

(Thorpe also looked impossibly cool in a black body suit. He seemed a cross between Flipper and an agent for the KGB.)

Phelps said Monday morning that the previous night's 400 freestyle relay final had drained him. It showed.

Phelps was the last to leave the pool after the 200, congratulating Thorpe, then slipping quickly to the warm-down pool. As Thorpe's Australian mates serenaded him with a chorus of 'Waltzing Matilda,' Phelps prepared for his next race. No time to let emotions rule. No time for thoughts or regrets. Only time to stay loose and focus.

He swims twice more today, but not until the evening session. Maybe Phelps will sleep. Or maybe he'll make like a shark and swim all night. Then on Thursday, Phelps will swim the 100-meter butterfly semifinals, just 31 minutes after finishing the finals of the 200-meter individual medley.

No one said being the best was easy.

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E-mail pdaugherty@enquirer.com