Phelps’struggle continues in Shanghai

SHANGHAI:

America’s Ryan Lochte stunned 14-time Olympic champion Michael Phelps to win the 200m freestyle title at the World Championships and extend his teammate’s rocky start to the event.

Lochte surged from third place over the final 100 metres to finish in one minute and 44.44 seconds, 0.35 ahead of Phelps with Germany’s Paul Biedermann, the defending champion and world-record-holder, coming in third.

The result meant Phelps failed to regain the crown he lost to Biedermann two years ago. Lochte had kind words for his defeated teammate.

“Michael and I have been battling head-to-head for almost eight years now,” said Lochte. “It has definitely been a good rivalry. He’s a great competitor. He’s one of the world’s great swimmers. I’m just privileged to swim on the same team, even in the same event.”

Meanwhile, Zhao Jing claimed China’s second swimming gold in another upset win when she beat Olympic title-holder Natalie Coughlin into third place in the women’s 100m backstroke.

Zhao finished just one-hundredth of a second faster than 2009 silver-medallist Anastasia Zueva of Russia. Zhao was delighted after her upset win.

Friis bags 1,500m gold

Denmark’s Lotte Friis won the women’s 1,500m freestyle title with world-record holder Kate Ziegler taking silver. China’s Li Xuanxu won the bronze.

Meanwhile, the men’s 100m backstroke was won by Camille Lacourt and Jeremy Stravius, who finished in a dead heat to share the gold medal. American Rebecca Soni won the women’s 100m breaststroke finishing ahead of Australia’s Leisel Jones and Ji Liping of China.





Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th, 2011.