Paul Biedermann defeats Michael Phelps in Men’s 200m freestyle: Day two – 2011 Swimming World Cup
World record holder, Paul Biedermann defended his title in a wonderful manner by defeating Michael Phelps in the Men’s 200m freestyle final on the concluding day of the 2011 Swimming World Cup in Moscow, Russia on Wednesday, October 19.
Moscow is third leg of seven-stage World Cup series scheduled by the international aquatics sport governing body, Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA).
The 25-year-old Biedermann, who qualified as the fourth fastest swimmer in the final lifted up his efforts in the final round and thrashed out hopes of his opponents in the short course 200m freestyle.
Biedermann’s effort was challenged by 14-time Olympic champion, Phelps, who demonstrated his astonishing swim in the start of the race, where he completed initial 50 metres of the swim in a fastest time of 24.37 seconds.
Biedermann remained off the hook and covered the same distance in 24.63 seconds. He followed the lead of Olympic champion in the next two rounds of the swim. Phelps ended his first half of the swim in 50.77 seconds to stay ahead of Biedermann’s 50.95 seconds
effort.
He continued his dominance in the third round, where Phelps submitted a time of 1 minute and 17.28 seconds as compared to 1 minute and 17.38 seconds effort of German veteran.
Nevertheless, Biedermann went full throttle in the final 50 metres and completed his final round in a superb time of 25.77 seconds to post 1 minute and 43.15 seconds for gold medal. His effort was nearly four seconds slower than his world record of 1 minute
and 39.37 seconds, made by Biedermann during November 2009.
In the meantime, Phelps concluded his final round in a time of 26.03 seconds to submit 1 minute and 43.31 seconds for silver medal. He was followed by a Russian swimmer, Nikita Lobintsev, who remained just 0.60 seconds slower than him and secured the podium
for bronze medal by reporting a time of 1 minute and 43.91 seconds.
In addition, Biedermann expressed happiness over his splendid victory in the 200m discipline while the winners were called upon medal rostrum for accolades after the completion of final session.
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