Records tumble on magical night
Michael Phelps of the US poses with his gold medal after winning the men's 200m freestyle at the World Aquatics Championship in Melbourne yesterday. AP |
Phelps set his world mark in the 200-meter freestyle, in a time of 1 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 100-meter 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 American 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."
Pellegrini broke her world record in a women's 200-meter freestyle semifinal in a time of 1:56.64, improving on the previous mark of Franziska Van Almsick of Germany, set on August 3, 2002 at Berlin.
An amazed Pellegrini put her hands to her lips, then raised her arms skyward in celebration.
Pellegrini admitted today's final will be tough.
"It will be a difficult race, but I will just try to swim as I did today," she said. "As far as I am concerned I have already won. Among all these world records tonight, there is finally also an Italian one."
The Americans won their fourth gold medal of the night when Kate Ziegler finished first in the 1,500 meters in a time of 15:53.05. Flavia Rigamonti of Switzerland took the silver in 15:55.38 while Japan's Ai Shibata won bronze in a time of 15:58.55.
Australian Leisel Jones won the other final yesterday, taking the women's 100-meter breaststroke gold in a time of 1:05.72 ahead of Tara Kirk of the United States and Anna Khlistunova of the Ukraine.
Not known for going to the early lead, Phelps opened under world-record pace on the first 50 meters, with Pieter van den Hoogenband close behind.
Phelps pulled away from the Dutchman coming off the wall at 150 meters, 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.
The American 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."
Coughlin and Laure Manaudou of France were the only women to go under 1 minute in the backstroke final. Manaudou took the silver in 59.87, while Reiko Nakamura of Japan finished third.
Coughlin has broken the minute barrier five times in her career.
"It has been a goal of mine for five years now to break my best, which is a world record," said Coughlin. "I felt really strong and confident. I knew that was exactly how I needed to swim that race to break the record and I did."
Agencies
(China Daily 03/28/2007 page24)
