Eric `The Eel'

"They should let me back into the event because I did win my heat."

"My muscles were hurting. I had never been in a pool that big before, I was very scared. I feel as if I have won a gold medal."

"I would like somebody to sponsor me and pay for a coach. It is all very well doing these interviews and having all this publicity but it will not be worth anything if nobody is willing to help me."

Eric `The Eel' Moussambani

"It's the first time I've swum 50 metres. . . it was further than I thought." Eric's Equatorial Guinea team mate Paula `the Trawler' Barila Bolopa, after completing her 50m freestyle sprint 40 seconds slower than Inge de Bruijn.