GERMANY’S Paul Biedermann pulled off a second sensational coup at the World Championships when he overpowered swimming great Michael Phelps to win the 200-meter freestyle final in record time in Rome, Italy on Tuesday.
He ripped the gold from the twice champion, having broken Ian Thorpe’s world record to triumph in the 400-meter freestyle Sunday.
Critics will allege a performance-enhancing polyurethane suit was crucial to his wins but the 22-year-old still basked in the glory on a night where four world records fell.
“It was a really amazing race. My coach told me before the race: ‘Phelps will beat you on the start and on the turns — the only way to beat him is in the swimming,’” a beaming Biedermann told reporters after clocking 1 minute 42 seconds.
“It’s all about the suits, it’s not about the swimmer anymore. That makes me mad. The suit matters but the athlete is still more important.”
Governing body FINA earlier ratified last week’s decision to dump polyurethane costumes from next year and return to textile suits and shorts for men.
Second-placed Phelps, who won a record eight golds at last year’s Olympics, was gracious in defeat after seeing his world record 1:42.96 from Beijing obliterated.
“I’m really disappointed. But if you look at it, it’s my second best time ever. He’s just in better shape than I am,” the 24-year-old said after swimming 1:43.22.
Phelps, recently back from a six-month layoff that included a three-month ban for being photographed inhaling from a pipe used for smoking marijuana, was wearing Speedo’s LZR suit.
The costume was the first of the new breed but has been usurped by the likes of Jaked and Arena models in recent months.
The American looked forward to the new rules. “I think it is going to be fun next year. Swimming is back to swimming. Hopefully next summer we will really be able to go head-to-head and I’ll be in jammers (long trunks),” he said.
Phelps has already taken his World Championship gold medal tally to 18 after the U.S. team won the 4×100 freestyle relay Sunday while on Tuesday he qualified second for the 200 butterfly final. He swims the 100 fly later in the week.
Moments after the packed stands had come to terms with Biedermann’s triumph, Britain’s Gemma Spofforth stunned them again by smashing another world record in the women’s 100 backstroke final with 58.12 seconds.
She beat the mark set by Anastasia Zueva on Monday.
South Africa’s Cameron van der Burgh then destroyed the men’s 50 breaststroke world record in his semifinal, streaking through the open-air pool in 26.74 seconds.(SD-Agencies)