updated 8:15 a.m. ET Aug. 20, 2004

ATHENS, Greece - Gary Hall Jr. is miffed again: He’s getting left off another Olympic relay team.

U.S. men’s coach Eddie Reese told Hall that he won’t be part of the 400-meter medley relay.

“He wasn’t happy with that,” Reese said Thursday.

The three-time Olympian from Phoenix also wasn’t chosen for last Sunday’s 400 free relay final, even though he anchored the United States’ gold-medal teams in the last two Olympics.

“There were a lot of things Eddie did not take into consideration,” Hall said. “I love the relays and I’d love to be a part of it.”

But Reese was unapologetic.

“You’ve got to prove it at this meet,” he said. “What happened a year ago or four years ago doesn’t matter.”

Last week, Hall complained that U.S. coaches were giving special treatment to Michael Phelps by putting him on the 400 free relay, even though the 19-year-old from Baltimore didn’t compete in the 100 free at the U.S. trials, which usually determines the pool of relay swimmers.

Phelps’ bid to break Mark Spitz’s record of seven gold medals in one games was partially derailed by the relay’s third-place finish.

Hall has said that Reese was pressured by USA Swimming and the media to put Phelps on the 400 free relay, ensuring he would have enough chances to go after the record. Phelps is swimming five individual events in Athens and needed to be on all three relays to have eight medal shots.

“Gary and I are going to disagree,” Reese said. “I tried to convince him that Michael was not here to win seven gold medals and I’m not here to help him.”

Hall didn’t bother showing up for 400 free relay final, though he earned a bronze medal for swimming the preliminary — the ninth medal of his career.

Reese went with Ian Crocker over Hall, even though Crocker was sick with a sore throat, and the Americans were doomed by his dismal start. Crocker went out in 50.05 seconds — the worst 100 of any swimmer — and left his teammates with a deficit they could not make up.

Phelps swam his leg of the final in 48.74 seconds — better than his performance at a meet in February that Reese used as a measuring stick, but 0.01 slower than Hall’s time in the preliminaries.

“I was disappointed with the decision and I can argue with my time, but it’s something I have to live with,” Hall said.

He watched the race at the athletes’ village, and saw South Africa win the gold and the Netherlands take silver.

“I tried to block it out, but it was tough,” he said. “I don’t put any blame on Phelps or Crocker, but I question Reese’s decision. He knew Crocker was sick.”

Since then, Hall has been unusually silent.

Asked what he had been doing, he said, “Quietly supporting the team on a one-on-one basis.”

Hall returned to action Thursday in the 50 freestyle prelims. The defending Olympic champion advanced to Friday night’s final with the fifth-fastest time in his only individual event.

Reese won’t even use Hall in the 400 medley relay preliminaries Friday.

“It’s impossible for me not to come across as being bitter and I don’t want to come across as being bitter,” Hall said. “I really want to be positive here in support of the team, but not the decision.”

MORE FROM AQUATICS (SWIMMING, DIVING, WATER POLO)

Aquatics (Swimming, diving, water polo) Section Front

'Phelpstival' honors Games' swimming star Olympic champion Coughlin injured Phelps' next endeavor: Promote swimming Phelps on roster for short course champs Despite setbacks, Americans ruled the pool NBCO: U.S. must alter diving selection Interactive: Poolside with legends U.S. medal winners Swimming medal winners U.S. swimming roster Aquatics (Swimming, diving, water polo) Section Front   Add Aquatics (Swimming, diving, water polo) headlines to your news reader: