Aaron Peirsol of the US broke his own world record in the 200m backstroke while Australia's Leisel Jones set a new standard in the 200m breaststroke Friday, both claiming their second gold medals at swimming's World Championships.
Pierson finished two seconds ahead of his closest pursuer and earned applause from runner-up Markus Rogan of Austria at swimming's World Championships.
"I always get to watch his feet during the races," Rogan said.
PHOTO: AP
The American led from the start, was comfortably ahead at the first turn and steadily extended his margin to finish in 1 minute, 54.66 seconds. It eclipsed his old mark of 1:54.74 he set at last year's US Olympic trials.
After the final turn, Peirsol's only competitor was the clock. He got to the wall with a mighty lunge, then spun around to see his time. When the world record flashed on the scoreboard, the usually laid-back Californian pumped his fist and splashed the water in delight.
"I'm starting to feel very possessive about it," said Peirsol, who won the 100m backstroke earlier this week. "I feel like I've got a good grip on it, only in the sense that I know how I need to swim it, whether I'm feeling good, bad or in between."
Rogan was next in 1:56.63, while Ryan Lochte of the US claimed the bronze in 1:57.00.
Jones, who already won the 100m breaststroke, made it a sweep with a powerful swim in the 200. She was nearly two seconds under world-record pace at the final turn and held on for a time of 2:21.72.
That shattered the mark of 2:22.44 set at last year's US Olympic trials by Amanda Beard, who sat out this year's worlds.
"It sort of releases a lot of pressure on me -- or maybe it puts a lot of pressure on me now," she said.
Jones entered the competition with a reputation of not being able to win a big race.
"A lot of people have said to me that I'm incapable of breaking the world record, but I didn't really believe that," Jones said. "I think I've set a target like the 4-minute mile."
Germany's Anne Poleska took the silver, Austria's Mirna Jukic the bronze.
American Brendan Hansen matched Jones 100m-200m breaststroke sweep, capturing the men's 200m while the Americans wrapped up a warm, breezy night on the Ile Saint-Helene with a dominating victory in the men's 800m freestyle relay.
Michael Phelps led off, earning his fourth gold medal of the meet, and Klete Keller swam the anchor leg -- just as he did during a thrilling Olympic race in Athens.
Phelps still has an enticing rematch Saturday of his 100m butterfly victory in Athens, when he edged teammate and world record holder Ian Crocker for the gold.
Crocker and Phelps qualified 1-2 in the semifinals.
Australia won the night's other race, with Jodie Henry taking gold in the women's 100m free.
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