The Hindu : Sport / Swimming : Ian Crocker beats Phelps, sets new 100m butterfly record

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Monday, Aug 01, 2005

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Sport - Swimming

Ian Crocker beats Phelps, sets new 100m butterfly record

MONTREAL: Ian Crocker broke his own world record in the 100-metre butterfly and turned a much-anticipated rematch with Michael Phelps into a rout at the world swimming championships on Saturday.

The two Americans were virtually even off the blocks, but Crocker already had a sizable lead when their heads emerged from the water. He was about a half-body length ahead at the turn, and didn't have to worry about Phelps making one his patented charges in the final 50 metres.

With arms pumping furiously, Crocker stretched out his advantage all the way to the wall. He touched in 50.40 seconds — easily eclipsing the mark of 50.76 that he set in beating Phelps at last year's U.S. Olympic trials.

But Phelps won the race that really mattered, overtaking Crocker at the Athens Olympics.

That didn't sit well with Crocker, who was determined to regain the upper hand in his trademark event, even though it meant beating the world's best swimmer.

"It was definitely my goal to break the record," he said. "I didn't know it would be by that much. When you're racing against Phelps, you always have to assume it's going to take a world record to win. My time definitely surprised me."

Crocker didn't have to worry about Phelps, who took the silver but wasn't even close to the winner at 51.65. Ukraine's Andriy Serdinov claimed the bronze.

With one day left in the championships, the Americans were on top of the swimming standings with 13 golds and 27 medals overall.

Good show by the Africans

It was another big night for the Africans, an emerging force in Montreal.

South Africa's Roland Schoeman won the 50 free for his second gold of the week, even though he wasn't feeling well, and Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry completed a sweep of the 100-200 backstroke.

He felt on top of the world after swimming the length of the pool in 21.69 — just five-hundredths of a second off Alexander Popov's world record and beating Popov's meet record from 2003.

He stared defiantly at the scoreboard and held up one finger. Popov's world record was safe for another day, but Schoeman is closing fast.

Coventry won the 200 back in 2 minutes, 8.52 seconds, adding to her victory in the 100 and a silver-medal showing in the 200 individual medley. The silver went to Margaret Hoelzer of the United States, with Japan's Reiko Nakamura taking the bronze.

Coventry will go down as one of the biggest female stars in Montreal. — AP

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