Phelps 2nd in Rome FINA World Championships
by BetUS Staff
Michael Phelps finished second in his first final at the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome.
Shockingly, Olympic swim star Michael Phelps was left in top seeded Biedermann's powerful wake today at the world swimming championships at the Foro Italico sports complex. Biedermann, of Germany, not only beat Phelps in a convincing manner, but he took away Phelps' world record in the 200-meter freestyle.
Biedermann swam a world-record time of 1 minute, 42 seconds beating Phelps by over one full second. Phelps touched the wall in 1:43.22.
Phelps set the previous world record of 1:42.96 at the Beijing Olympics.
Biedermann's performance was the 12th world record in the first two-plus days of swimming at the worlds.
"It was amazing to swim against Michael Phelps," Biedermann said. "It was a really great moment for me to live this moment. Now I'm actually faster than him. It was a dream for me."
It was Phelps' first major individual loss in four years.
Biedermann also noted that he doesn't think Phelps is in top form, and pointed to the long break Phelps took after Beijing as a reason.
Phelps looked grim immediately after the 2nd place finish, but by the time he received his medal he was all smiles.
"Theoretically, that was a pretty good swim for me," Phelps said. "It was three-tenths off my best time after taking six months off. I mean, I'm not happy. But, I mean, I know I didn't train much this year.
"For now, I'll take it. But I'm not very happy."
Biedermann, who is wearing the controversial high-tech suit made by the Italian company Arena, was almost apologetic after the 400 victory and admitted the suit made him much faster.
Said Biedermann: "FINA allowed it, it's not my problem."
