Lochte: WR 1:51.56 200m Medley
2008-04-11
Craig Lord
Ryan Lochte shatters world record by 1.43sec, pressed by Britain's Liam Tancock, who claimed silver in a Commonwealth record of 1:53.10, his teammate James Goddard giving the host nation two places on the podium

Ryan Lochte, coached by Gregg Troy in Florida, shattered the world record in the 200m medley by 1.43sec, pressed by Britain's Liam Tancock, who claimed silver in a Commonwealth record of 1:53.10, his teammate James Goddard, on 1:55.15, giving the host nation two places on the podium.

Lochte beat the 1:52.99 set by Laszlo Cseh of Hungary at the European short-course championships in Debrecen on Dec. 13, 2007. Lochte and Tancock locked horns all the way but the American had the clear edge on freestyle and his final turn was a masterclass for the gathered to learn from. Lochte's splits: 24.79; 52.26; 1:24.82; 1:51.56 (24.79, 27.47, 32.56, 26.74) Tancock's splits: 24.14; 52.29; 1:24.70; 1:53.14. (24.14, 28.15, 32.41, 28.40)

Lochte's response on backstroke to get back on terms with Tancock and then the Brits determination to stick with the American summed up the tightness of a thrilling duel that was decided by Lochte's superior freestyle strength and capacity over longer distances.

Kylie Palmer showed those when she took down the championship record to win the 400m freestyle crown for Australian in 3:59.23. If Palmer, coached by John Rogers in Brisbane, always looked more in control of her pacing than the field, then Camelia Potec (ROM) is starting to show the benefits of the coaching regime of Philippe Lucas, Laure Manaudou's mentor in Canet, France. A bodylength back on the battle between Joanne Jackson (GBR) and Bronte Barratt, Potec stormed through on the last 50m with a 29.72 split that compared to times of over 30sec for the two women she needed to get past on her way to the podium.

Potec stopped the clock in a national record of 4:01.06, with Jackson's 4:01.11 keeping Barratt at bay by 0.15sec.