Michael Phelps's win isn't a surprise, so is his world record
breaking performance.
The 21-year-old American wunderkind smashed his own world record
in the men's 200 meters individual medley?in Melbourne?on
Thursday, inning his fourth gold at the on-going World
Championships.
"I am just happy to swim fast again and have my training work,"
aid the eight times Olympic medalist after he twice defended his
title in the event in a time of one minute and 54.98 seconds,
slicing 0.86 seconds off the previous world record set by himself
at the Pan Pacific Championships last August.
Phelps's teammate Ryan Lochte kept his pace well in the first
three strokes, being dropped behind only in half-body length by the
unmatched Phelps. But the silver medalist in the 100 meters
backstroke faded in the last 50 meters of freestyle, finishing
second in 1:56.19, 1.21 seconds behind Phelps.
Hungary star Laszio Cseh took the bronze by clocking 1:56.92,
one step backward from the runner-up position two years ago.
Phelps clinched his first gold in Melbourne with the US
4x100meters freestyle relay team in the opening day's competition
last Sunday. Then he triumphed in the 200 meters freestyle and 200
meters butterfly races both with world record smashing
performances.
"I've said this before: anything is possible if you put your
mind to it. I've had a good attitude and I've been successful. I'm
going to stick to what works," said the prolific super-fish.
The prodigy still has the 100 meters butterfly and the 400
meters individual medley to go. Besides, he might contribute for
the US 4x200 meters freestyle relay team on Friday.
(Xinhua News Agency?March 30, 2007)