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Americans break 2 world swimming records
2007-03-30
Michael Phelps set another world record in the pool Friday night. This time, he needed help from his American teammates, including Ryan Lochte, who outdid Phelps with two world records at the world championships. Muzi.com News 10039988-0 (muzi.com)Overshadowed by bigger names on the U.S. men's team and a frequent runner-up, Lochte emerged in his own right with a stunning victory in the 200-meter backstroke, snapping teammate Aaron Peirsol's seven-year winning streak. Muzi.com News 10039988-1 (muzi.com) "I just dug deep and went for it," Lochte said. "He's a great competitor, but you can't always win every race, every day." Muzi.com News 10039988-2 (muzi.com) Tell that to Phelps. Muzi.com News 10039988-3 (muzi.com) Lochte came back later and joined Phelps, Klete Keller and Peter Vanderkaay for a world-record victory in the 800 freestyle relay, making Phelps 5-for-5 this week with four world records in as many days. Muzi.com News 10039988-4 (muzi.com) The quartet touched first in 7 minutes, 03.24 seconds, lowering the time of 7:04.66 set by Australia at the 2001 world championships in Fukuoka, Japan. Muzi.com News 10039988-5 (muzi.com) It was Lochte's second world record of the night to go with his new standard in the 200 backstroke. Muzi.com News 10039988-6 (muzi.com) And he earned his first gold medal in Melbourne, having been runner-up to Peirsol in the 100 back and Phelps in the 200 individual medley. Muzi.com News 10039988-7 (muzi.com) "Some people go out there and swim for second because they don't think they can beat a Phelps or a Peirsol," he said. "I go in there and honestly think I can." Muzi.com News 10039988-8 (muzi.com) Phelps swam the leadoff relay leg, getting the Americans under world-record pace on the first of his four laps. For once, though, he couldn't quite manage a world record. His 200 split of 1:45.36 was much slower than the world record of 1:43.86 he set in winning the 200 free Tuesday. Muzi.com News 10039988-9 (muzi.com) "It was a little bit slower than what I wanted," Phelps said. Muzi.com News 10039988-10 (muzi.com) Australia took the silver and Canada earned the bronze. Muzi.com News 10039988-11 (muzi.com) As Vanderkaay plowed home far ahead of the developing race behind him, Phelps shouted, "Come on, Peter!" Vanderkaay hit the wall and climbed on the deck for a group embrace. Phelps pumped his left arm as the scoreboard flashed `World Record' for seemingly the umpteenth time this week. Muzi.com News 10039988-12 (muzi.com) "I'm definitely very pleased with another world record," he said. "I'm tired and sore, but I'm still feeling decent in the water." Muzi.com News 10039988-13 (muzi.com) The United States owns a leading 23 medals through six days, including 13 golds. Australia has 15 medals and six golds. Friday's records made it 12 during the meet -- with 10 set by the Americans. Muzi.com News 10039988-14 (muzi.com) In the backstroke, Lochte notched a world record and a gold medal over Peirsol, the world's dominant backstroker who hadn't lost a 200 internationally since the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Muzi.com News 10039988-15 (muzi.com) "I still don't think it's true," Lochte said. "I think what that scoreboard says is a lie. I'm in shock." Muzi.com News 10039988-16 (muzi.com) Before Phelps joined the relay, he and U.S. rival Ian Crocker faced off in the same semifinal of the 100 butterfly. Crocker, the world-record holder, led all the way and qualified fastest in 51.41 seconds. Muzi.com News 10039988-17 (muzi.com) Phelps was fifth at the turn and came home third at 51.92. His time was fourth-quickest -- behind Crocker, Albert Subirats of Venezuela and Lyndon Ferns of South Africa -- heading into Saturday night's final. Muzi.com News 10039988-18 (muzi.com) Crocker is the two-time defending world champion and only man ever to break the 51-second barrier, but Phelps beat him for Olympic gold in Athens. Muzi.com News 10039988-19 (muzi.com) Until Friday, Lochte was best known at this meet as the goofball who flashed a gold, silver and diamond-crusted grill in his mouth on the victory stand after the 200 IM. His teammates had dared him to wear the shiny metal caps favored by rappers. Muzi.com News 10039988-20 (muzi.com) But he was all business against Peirsol, the world and Olympic champion. Muzi.com News 10039988-21 (muzi.com) Peirsol was under his own world-record pace through 150 meters. He and Lochte went stroke-for-stroke over the last 50 meters. Muzi.com News 10039988-22 (muzi.com) "I kind of looked up at the scoreboard to see where I was," Lochte said. "I probably shouldn't have done that, but I saw I was right there with him. I just moved my arms faster and kicked. It's amazing." Muzi.com News 10039988-23 (muzi.com) Lochte touched the wall in 1 minute, 54.32 seconds. Muzi.com News 10039988-24 (muzi.com) That erased Peirsol's old mark of 1:54.44 set at last year's Pan Pacific championships. Peirsol finished in 1:54.80. Muzi.com News 10039988-25 (muzi.com) Lochte leaped in the water, a huge grin spreading across his face before he and Peirsol embraced across the lane ropes. Muzi.com News 10039988-26 (muzi.com) "He definitely earned it," Peirsol said. "I didn't have it where I usually have it. This will be a good year for me to be motivated." Muzi.com News 10039988-27 (muzi.com) Markus Rogan of Austria earned the bronze. Muzi.com News 10039988-28 (muzi.com) Peirsol's last defeat in the 200 came at the 2000 Olympics, when he finished second to American Lenny Krayzelburg. Muzi.com News 10039988-29 (muzi.com) "I remember, I remember well," Peirsol said. "I'm just glad (this time) to keep it in the family with Team USA." Muzi.com News 10039988-30 (muzi.com) Lochte played it straight on the medals podium this time, with only a toothy white grin showing. Muzi.com News 10039988-31 (muzi.com) "Yeah, everyone is talking about that," he said about his grill. Muzi.com News 10039988-32 (muzi.com) Phelps said he gave Lochte "a little crap" for not wearing the bling again, suggesting he buy a new grill with the gold-medal bonus money Lochte gets from USA Swimming and FINA, the sport's governing body. Muzi.com News 10039988-33 (muzi.com) At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Lochte was second -- again -- to Phelps in the 200 IM. Muzi.com News 10039988-34 (muzi.com) Now, he's broken through, with 17 months to go before the Beijing Olympics. Muzi.com News 10039988-35 (muzi.com) "My dreams are to become one of the best in swimming," Lochte said. "Nothing can get in my way. Getting second won't stop me." Muzi.com News 10039988-36 (muzi.com) Kosuke Kitajima of Japan regained the 200 breaststroke world title he lost two years ago in Montreal. He did so without racing U.S. rival and world-record holder Brendan Hansen, who withdrew from the preliminaries because of a virus. Muzi.com News 10039988-37 (muzi.com) Kitajima, the current Olympic and 2003 world champion, won in 2:09.80 -- 1.19 seconds ahead of Aussie Brenton Rickard. Muzi.com News 10039988-38 (muzi.com) Kitajima was under Hansen's world record through 100 meters, but couldn't maintain the pace. Muzi.com News 10039988-39 (muzi.com)
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