Michael Phelps

http://www.kansascity.com/449/story/749520.html: "Phelps makes it 6 golds, 6 world records" BEIJING - Proving once again that his only rival is history, Michael Phelps won his sixth gold medal in a sixth world record time. In his second individual medley race of the Games, Phelps pulled away from both Hungarian Laszlo Cseh and teammate Ryan Lochte to touch the wall in 1:54.23 in the 200 IM, bettering the world record he set in the U.S. trials in Omaha in July by 0.57 seconds. Entering the Games, it was considered one of the toughest races for Phelps to win given when it was in the meet (his sixth event) and how close Lochte was to defeating him at the trials. But Lochte, who finished in third with a time of 1:56.53 (.01 seconds behind Cseh) was no competition this time for Phelps, who is on pace to break Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals in one Games. "I just wanted to step on it in the first 50 (meters) a little bit and try to get to an early lead," Phelps said. Lochte, however, did manage a gold on this day, and a world record. The former University of Florida swimmer took back the 200-meter backstroke world record, one that he had shared with Peirsol during the trials, to earn his first individual Olympic gold. Lochte had beaten Peirsol in the 200 back at the 2007 world championships in Melbourne, setting the backstroke world mark at 1:54.32. But Peirsol out-touched Lochte in the U.S. trials, tying Lochte for the record and entering the Games as the favorite to defend both his Athens backstroke golds. But Lochte, who settled for bronze in the 400 individual medley and won gold with the record-breaking 800 free relay team, reclaimed the record to start what many consider the most difficult double any swimmer was attempting at these Games. About a half hour after his 200 back, Lochte faded against Phelps in the 200 IM, possibly as a result of the effort he put in to win backstroke gold. Lochte drew raves in Omaha for pushing both Peirsol and Phelps to world record times in order to edge him out. Phelps was impressed with Lochte's performances within half an hour of each other. "The 200 back is all legs, and for Ryan to come back (30) minutes later and just miss going one-two (in the 200 IM), that's a pretty incredible swim," Phelps said. "That's actually an incredible day for him." Phelps had an impressive double of his own, actually, with the semifinal of the 100-meter butterfly that immediately followed the medal ceremony for the 200 IM. Phelps said he pulled off a quick change right after the ceremony, but still had to improvise some. "I had no time," Phelps said. "My medal was in my warm-up jacket." With his medal hopefully secure in his warm-up pocket, Phelps went on to swim the second-fastest qualifying time in the 100 fly in 50.97, .05 seconds behind Serbian Milorad Cavic. American Ian Crocker tied for the third best time (51.27) in what is expected to be a heated race for Phelps. "Tomorrow is going to be a very tough race," Phelps said after his semi. "If I'm not there at the 50, it's going to be tough. I have to force the first 50 more, and if I'm there it's going to be a good race." Phelps has that final and the 400 IM relay remaining to break Sptiz's record. He now has 12 career gold medals, further distancing himself as the all-time winningest Olympian. Lochte has touted himself as serious competition for Phelps, saying he enters every race against the American icon with the intention of beating him. "That's just how I was raised up," Lochte said before the Games began. "I always feel like I can win, whether it's against Michael Phelps or anyone."