Ryan Lochte defeats Michael Phelps in Men’s 200m freestyle final: Day three – World Championships
American swimmer, Ryan Lochte, defeated his strongest rival and team-member, Michael Phelps, in the final round of Men’s 200m freestyle on the third day of the Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA) organised 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, China,
on Tuesday, July 24.
With his immaculate swim in the final round, Lochte overwhelmed the aggressive efforts of his strongest competitors, Phelps and Paul Biedermann. Lochte occupied the gold medal, by submitting a time of 1 minute and 44.44 seconds. His time was 2.44 seconds
slower than the championship and world record of 1 minute and 42.00 seconds, made by Paul Biedermann at the 2009 Rome World Championships.
Michael Phelps stayed only 0.55 seconds behind Lochte and reported on the finishing wall in a time of 1 minute and 44.79 seconds to secure the second position. He was followed by Biedermann of Germany, who appeared on the concluding wall after just 0.08
seconds and posted a time of 1 minute and 44.88 seconds to earn a bronze finish.
Park Tae Hwan of Korea emerged as the fourth fastest swimmer of the four-lap swim, as he was just 0.04 seconds behind Biedermann and reported in a time of 1 minute and 44.92 seconds. Tae Hwan successfully edged out his closest competitor, France’s Yannick
Agnel, who remained only 0.07 seconds behind him and clocked a time of 1 minute and 44.99 seconds for fifth best spot. Moments later, Nikita Lobintsev of Russia surfaced as the sixth best swimmer of the event, as he concluded his swim in a time of 1 minute
and 46.57 seconds.
He was trailed by Dominik Meichtry of Switzerland, who was 0.45 seconds behind his preceding swimmer and secured the seventh best spot in a time of 1 minute and 47.02 seconds. Lobintsev’s team-mate, Danila Izotov managed to settle as the eighth fastest finisher,
as he produced a time of 1 minute and 47.46 seconds.
The arena enjoyed the gruelling efforts of all swimmers, while the winners received medals and accolades for their podium finishes after the session.
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