Shanghai, July 28: American Ryan Lochte has set the first world record since high-tech body suits were banned in swimming, breaking his own mark in winning the 200-meter individual medley at the world championships.
Lochte finished in 54.00 seconds Thursday, improving by a tenth of a second on the mark he set at Rome two years ago when the high-tech suits were still allowed. They were banned at the start of 2010.
Lochte moved ahead of second-place finisher Michael Phelps after the opening butterfly leg and led after each of the backstroke and breaststroke legs before powering home in the freestyle.
Phelps finished in 54.16 seconds and Laszlo Cseh of Hungary took bronze in 57.69.
Lochte and Phelps also finished one-two in the 100 freestyle. AP
