Ryan Lochte broke two world records in under two hours and
helped his more famous American teammate Michael Phelps collect his
fifth gold medal at the World Swimming Championships on Friday.
Lochte broke Aaron Peirsol's record in the 200 backstroke final
before teaming up with Phelps as the United States demolished
Australia's mark for the 4x200 freestyle relay.
Phelps, who swam the lead-off leg in the relay, edged closer to
breaking Ian Thorpe's record of six gold medals at a world
championships when he collected his fifth in as many events.
The 21-year-old also booked his place in Saturday's 100
butterfly final and has another two events on Sunday to complete
his bid to scoop an unprecedented eight titles.
Libby Lenton bagged her third gold medal in Melbourne by beating
the fastest field ever assembled to win the women's 100 freestyle
and her Australian teammate Leisel Jones completed the 100-200
breaststroke double for the second time.
Japanese Olympic champion Kosuke Kitajima capitalized on the
absence of American rival Brendan Hansen to win the men's 200
breaststroke final and provide Asia with its second gold medallist
this week after South Korean Park Tae-hwan in the 400
freestyle.
Lochte sliced 0.12 off Peirsol's mark when he beat his teammate
in a sprint finish to reach the wall first in 1:54.32.
Peirsol, swimming in the lane next to Lochte, had to settle for
the silver medal with Austria's Markus Rogan taking the bronze.
It was Peirsol's first defeat in the event since he finished
second to Lenny Krayzelburg in the Olympic final at Sydney in 2000,
ruining his bid to join Australian long-distance freestyler Grant
Hackett as the only swimmers to win the same event at four world
championships.
"Ryan swam a wonderful race, can't take that away from him. He
definitely earned it," Peirsol said.
Lochte had finished second to Peirsol in the 100 backstroke
final and was runner-up to Phelps in the 200 individual medley but
struck gold twice when he followed up his breakthrough win in the
backstroke with another victory in the relay.
Lochte and Phelps joined forces with Klete Keller and Peter
Vanderkaay to win the gold in a time of 7:03.24, slashing 1.42 off
the previous record of 7:04.66 set by a Thorpe-led Australian team
at the 2001 world championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
It was the 12th world record in the past four days at the
championships.
(China Daily via agencies March 31, 2007)