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Swimmers shatter four world records

Michael Phelps of the US power through the water to win in the men's 200m freestyle final in a new world-record time in the Susie O'Neill pool at the FINA Swimming World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, yesterday. Phelps clocked 1:43.86. PHOTO: EPA

Four world records were set at the swimming world championships yesterday -- three by US superstars Michael Phelps, Natalie Coughlin and Aaron Peirsol, the other by lesser-known Italian Federica Pellegrini.

Phelps set his world mark in the 200m freestyle, in a time of one minute, 43.86 seconds, to break Australian Ian Thorpe's previous record of 1:44.06 at Fukuoka, Japan, in 2001.

In the next race, Coughlin broke her own world record in the 100m backstroke, finishing in 59.44. Her previous record of 59.58 was set in 2002.

Peirsol broke the world 100 backstroke record in a time of 52.98 seconds, bettering his previous record of 53.17 set at Indianapolis, Indiana in April 2005. Fellow US swimmer Ryan Lochte took the silver in 53.50 and Liam Tancock of Britain was third in 53.61.

Peirsol is the only swimmer to have won the event three times and at three consecutive world championships. He has six individual gold medals overall at world championships.

"I think it's the most impressive team I've ever been on," Peirsol said. "Michael was incredible, Natalie did well. So I had to do something too."

Gold medal winner Leisel Jones, center, of Australia poses with silver medalist Tara Kirk, right, of the US and bronze medalist Anna Khlistunova of Ukraine during the medal ceremony after the women's 100m breaststroke final in Melbourne, Australia, yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Pellegrini broke her world record in a women's 200m freestyle semi-final in a time of 1:56.64, improving on the previous mark of Franziska Van Almsick of Germany, set on Aug. 3, 2002, in Berlin.

An amazed Pellegrini put her hands to her lips, then raised her arms skyward in celebration. She advanced to today's final.

The US swimmers won their fourth gold medal of the night when Kate Ziegler finished first in the 1,500m in a time of 15:53.05.

Flavia Rigamonti of Switzerland took the silver in 15:55.38 while Japan's Ai Shibata won the bronze in a time of 15:58.55.

Not known for going to the early lead, Phelps opened under world-record pace on the first 50m, with Pieter Van Den Hoogenband close behind.

Phelps pulled away from the Dutchman coming off the wall at 150m, and moved out to a full body-length lead.

Van den Hoogenband took silver in 1:46.28. Park Tae-hwan of South Korea earned the bronze.

It was Phelps' record 12th world championship gold and 15th medal overall.

Thorpe, Van den Hoogenband and Phelps finished 1-2-3 in the 200 free at Athens, the so-called "Race of the Century" and the only time all three of the swimming greats faced each other.

The latest matchup was missing Thorpe, who retired in November at age 24.

Thorpe's mark was considered to be untouchable, but Phelps slashed almost a second and half off his best time to overhaul Thorpe's quickest swim.

Phelps is competing in up to eight events at Rod Laver Arena this week and his victory makes him the man to beat in next year's Beijing Olympics.

"I did want to race [Thorpe] here, I'm a little disappointed, but I was able to get there and race one of the best in Peter," Phelps said.

"I just wanted to take it out tonight and knew the biggest key was to get out after the first hundred. That's all I wanted to do and try to make a step on the third 50 and by then it's all adrenaline," he said.

Coughlin and Laure Manaudou of France were the only women to go under one minute in the backstroke final.

Manaudou took the silver in 59.87, while Reiko Nakamura of Japan finished third.
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