Phelps breaks record in 200 IM

World mark earns his 5th gold medal; Hoff upset in 200 IM

By Beth Harris | Associated Press

August 21, 2006

VICTORIA, British Columbia - Fueled by a big defeat to teammate Aaron Peirsol a night earlier, Michael Phelps responded with a world-record win for his fifth gold medal at the Pan Pacific Championships last night.

Not to be outdone, American Brendan Hansen lowered his world record in the 200 breaststroke for the second time in two weeks, beating Olympic champion Kosuke Kitajima of Japan.

Phelps won six medals, including five gold, and set world records in the 200 IM, 200 butterfly and 400 freestyle relay. His only loss was to Peirsol.

American Natalie Coughlin matched Phelps with six medals, including four gold - three on relays. Katie Hoff of Towson earned five medals.

The United States won a leading 43 medals in the four-day meet, including 24 gold to match its 1993 total.

Japan finished second in the medals standings with 21 and Australia was third with 15. Both countries won five golds combined.

Phelps, from Rodgers Forge, powered past American teammate Ryan Lochte on the final lap of the 200-meter individual medley, touching in 1 minute, 55.84 seconds. That bettered his old mark of 1:55.94, set in 2003 at a meet in his home state.

A huge grin spread across Phelps' face and he raised his arms in triumph. He then signaled No. 1 with both index fingers before hugging Lochte.

"I hate to lose," said Phelps, referring to Peirsol's 2.37-second victory in the 200 backstroke Saturday.

"It was good for me to get in the water and be pushed and get taken to a new level with Ryan," he said. "It was a best time for me, but I think over the next few years it's going to be even better."

Whitney Myers upset teammate Hoff in the 200 individual medley, denying Hoff a third individual gold medal.

Myers fell off world-record pace on the final lap, but her time of 2:10.11 set a Pan Pac record, erasing Hoff's mark from the preliminaries.

Hoff's time of 2:12.45 had broken a 13-year-old Pan Pac record.

Hoff's silver gave her five medals in the meet, including gold in the 200 freestyle, 400 individual medley and 800 freestyle relay.

Phelps opened the first 50 of the butterfly under world-record pace.

"I wanted to make a statement in the first 50 and just leave it in the pool," he said.

Lochte gained the lead on the backstroke leg and was below pace on the breaststroke, sneaking a look at Phelps in the next lane. But he was no match for one of swimming's strongest closers.

"Anytime I get a chance to compete with Phelps is an honor," Lochte said. "I love it."

Phelps methodically picked off Lochte on the final freestyle leg to win his last race of the four-day meet.

Lochte finished in 1:56.11. Ken Takakuwa of Japan earned bronze.