The Hindu : Sport / Swimming : Another record for Phelps

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 30, 2007
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Another record for Phelps

MELBOURNE: With Michael Phelps in the pool, the rest of the world is swimming for second place.

The American set his third World record in as many days, winning the 200-metre individual medley at the World championships on Thursday.

``Michael is just out of reach,'' bronze medallist Laszlo Cseh of Hungary said.

Phelps used the same strategy he employed in winning the 200m freestyle and 200 butterfly — go to the lead off the starting blocks and stay there.

Lochte settled for the silver in 1:56.19. Cseh, the European champion, finished third at 1:56.92.

Phelps has also set World records in the 200 freestyle and 200 butterfly. His first gold came as part of the 400 freestyle relay.

American backstroke swimmer Leila Vaziri and the U.S. women's 800m freestyle relay team also got in on the act.

Vaziri equalled her 50m World record by claiming gold in the non-Olympic event, clocking 28.16 seconds to match the time she set in Wednesday's semifinals.

Phelps pumped his right arm as he checked the scoreboard, then hugged Lochte in the lane next to him.

The night's most popular victory belonged to Aussie Jessicah Schipper, who had the home crowd roaring when she won the women's 200m butterfly in 2:06.39.

It was the world record-holder's first World title in the event after Schipper finished second to Otylia Jedrzejczak of Poland two years ago in Montreal.

Schipper was under her world-record pace through 100 metres, but she couldn't hold on.

The festive Aussie fans stood and clapped as Schipper took her victory stroll to Men at Work's ``Land Down Under.''

The results:

Men: 200m Individual Medley (final): 1. Michael Phelps (US) 1:54.98 (World record, previous 1:55.84 by Phelps), 2. Ryan Lochte (US), 1:56.19. 3. Laszlo Cseh (Hun), 1:56.92.

100m freestyle (final): 1. Filippo Magnini (Ita) 48.43 and Brent Hayden (Can) 48.43, 3. Eamon Sullivan (Aus) 48.47.

Women:

50m backstroke (final): 1. Leila Vaziri (US) 28.16 (equals World record), 2. Aliaksandra Herasimenia (Blr) 28.46, 3. Tayliah Zimmer (Aus) 28.50.

200m butterfly (final): 1. Jessicah Schipper (Aus) 2:06.39, 2. Kim Vandenberg (US) 2:06.71, 3. Otylia Jedrzejczak (Pol) 2:06.90.

4x200m freestyle relay (final): 1. US (7:50.09) (World record), 2. Germany (7:53.82), 3. France (7:55.96). — Agencies

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