I know it sounds strange, but you can get a draft in swimming, even in lap pool. By hugging the rope, he gave Lezak just enough to close the gap. I guess the French dude figured nobody had a chance to catch him, and if he had been in middle of he lane or on the opposite rope, he would have been right. The last few meters, though, it just looked like an angry swim. I'm still trying to figure out how Lezak. found enough to get the wall first.