29 Jul 2009

Germany freestyler upsets Phelps

6:40 am on 29 July 2009

The German swimming star Paul Biedermann has upset Michael Phelps in world record time to win the 200 metres freestyle at the world championships in Rome.

Biedermann, who had broken the world record to take gold in the 400 freestyle at the start of the week, beat Phelps by 1.2 seconds and broke the Americans world record on his way to the freestyle double.

Three other world records on the third day of the championships - they wet to Italy's Federica Pellegrini who broke her own record in the semi-finals of the women's 200m freestyle, South African Cameron van der Burgh in the semi-finals of the men's 50 metres breaststroke, and Britain's Gemma Spofforth in the women's 100 metres backstroke final.

That's fifteen world records in the first three days in Rome where FINA officials have decided to ban the performance-enhancing polyurethane bodysuits from next year.