MICHAEL Wenden struggled initially with the Mexico altitude: even taking the two flights of stairs at the athletes' village wore him out. But he adapted, to be part of the bronze 4x100m freestyle relay team. 
The Sydneysider followed up with the gold - and a world record - in the 100m freestyle, an event in which he was ranked sixth in the world. Then came a silver in the 4x200m relay, behind a US team that included Mark Spitz and Don Schollander, who had won four gold medals in Tokyo. Wenden was all speed - he dived in and thrashed his way up and down the pool. But his style was effective.
There was a lot at stake when the 200m men's event was staged for the first time since 1904. Wenden churned through the water in the final, with Schollander, smoother, more technical, right beside him.
In a rush to the finish Wenden just got home. Wenden told Australian Olympic historian Harry Gordon later that he was blacking out near the end of the race."Afterwards, when I got out of the pool, it was very difficult to walk," he said. " ... and the only consolation was that when I got into the ceremonial room to get ready for the presentation, Schollander was on the floor having oxygen."