The Pace Quickens-Two Championships Records as the USA Wins Five More
Australia, Japan, and Tunisia Win Gold
Phelps Withdraws Due to Back Injury

INDIANAPOLIS - Although it was day two of the championships, you would never know it by the difference in atmosphere here at Conseco Fieldhouse. Not only the crowd seemed double in size from yesterday, but the music was louder and played more often, there were prizes and contests for the fans, and the media were writing more words and taking more pictures.

All that and not even a swim by Michael Phelps. Michael scratched this morning from the 400 IM citing tightness in his back. He was set to swim the 4x200 free relay tonight, but pulled out of that as well. Tonight he held a press conference to announce his withdrawal from the entire Championships. "My back had been hurting probably the last week and a half or so. We had been working with physical therapists on the West Coast to get it a little better. We had just wanted to play it by ear and get in the water and see what happened."

Phelps' sister Whitney was a world class swimmer before retiring due to back injuries, which is one of the reasons he is being particularly careful. "We want to be extra cautious right now and take it step by step. You can tell I am disappointed not being able to continue in the meet, but I think we have a team out there that can do that."

Men's 400 IM Final
Oussama Mellouli (TUN) took the race out strong right from the start and moving into first at the 150 mark. Once they flipped for the free Mellouli had it in the bag. Not only does he swim the 400 IM, his final time of 4:07.02 was ahead of Robin Francis (GBR) who touched in 4:08.06 after a great breast split. The crowd roared as Eric Shanteau (USA) came up in lane one to take bronze in a best time of 4:08.94.

Mellouli's win was a first for Tunisia and he showed his excitement with a huge smile and double pumper. "It feels great because there was so much pressure on me coming in. I was seeded first coming in, but after prelims, I was only sixth. Deep down I knew I could win it. The 400 IM is probably the hardest race to swim when you're not in heavy training. This was also the first gold medal ever for my country, so that just makes it unbelievable. I am just so happy right now. It was a great to hear our national anthem in the US. I will always remember that."

Women's 100 Free Semi-Final
In the first semi Libby Lenton (AUS) was out over a body length ahead of the field. She touched in 53.53 well ahead of Hanna-Maria Seppala (FIN) in 54.71. Both women have additional swims tonight, but Lenton will have the mental edge after that swim. In semi number two it was Marleen Veldhuis (NED) who touched first in 54.05 followed by Josefin Lillhage (SWE) in 54.12. Both Americans Kara-Lynn Joyce and Lindsay Benko received thunderous applause and both made it into tomorrow night's final.

Men's 100 Back Final
Aaron Peirsol (USA) gave the crowd a real thrill, coming from behind to out swim Thomas Rupprath (GER). Rupprath was out under world record pace, but was clearly fading heading into the 75 turn. Peirsol popped up first and ahead on the last lap, storming to the finish to hit a best time and new Championship record of 50.72. Matt Welsh (AUS) overtook Rupprath in the final few metres to touch second in 51.04 to Rupprath's 51.20. Peter Marshall (USA), who owns the world record in this event from March's NCAA champs, was 4th in 52.09-well off his best.

"I didn't expect anything less," said Peirsol on his swim. "It feels good to come out on top. I was just trying to win. It took almost a world record to win; it certainly was not an easy race, but it was fun. It is amazing how many fans we have. We never have to sign this many autographs!"

Women's 50 Breast Final
Olympic silver medallist Brooke Hanson (AUS) continues to offer up gusty swims and the 50 breast was nothing but. She beat Jade Edmistone (AUS) off the blocks and fought her way through the rest of the race to finish in a best time of 30.20, just 1/100th of a second ahead of Edmistone, who owns the world record from early September. Coming in for third spot was Tara Kirk (USA) in 30.61 ahead of crowd favourite Amanda Beard (USA) who finished in a best time of 30.77.

Brooke Hanson, who always has a great big smile on her face, was equally as enthusiastic about racing here in Indy. "It was amazing to be in another World Championship final. To get up and get the gold tonight was just a great feeling for me and a great start to the meet. I have a lot of races left, and I knew it was going to be tough to race against my teammate, Jade. I just had to fight to the finish."

Men's 50 Free Semi Final
Out in lane one with no one watching, Salim Iles (ALG) won the first semi in 21.77 ahead of Olympic silver medallist Duje Draganja (CRO) in 21.84 and Jason Lezak (USA) in 21.85. In the second heat it was Stefan Nystrand (SWE) who, with a 21.85, out-touched Jose Meolans (ARG) and Mark Foster (GBR) who tied on 21.86. Nick Brunelli (USA) also qualified for the final with a 21.92 giving the fans two to cheer for in tomorrow night's final.

Women's 50 Fly Semi Final
No matter the distance, the stroke, or the competition, Jenny Thompson (USA) brings a sense of professionalism to her races, which is unbeatable. She took just one breathe in the race and was clearly the best. She finished in 26.34. Heading into tomorrow's final in second spot is the world record holder in this event, Anna-Karin Kammerling (SWE) in 26.68 just ahead of Libby Lenton's (AUS) 26.69.

Men's 100 Breast Final
Brendan Hansen (USA) looked particularly determined tonight leading from start to finish. Brenton Rickard (AUS) did begin to close on Hansen in the final strokes, but the American was able to hang on for the win in 58.45 to Rickard's 58.64. Vladislav Polyakov (KAZ) was overjoyed with his bronze in 59.64.

"I wasn't really fired up about coming to this meet right after the Olympics, but being in lane four and hearing my name get called and hearing all those people screaming made it really great. I'm extremely happy with the way I did, and I have to be happy with what my efforts are. I put 100 percent in every single one of them."

Women's 100 Back Final
With Natalie Coughlin (USA) also out with an injury, the field was wide open for the woman who could step up and take it. Chang Gao (CHN) had the fastest time of the field, but after a poor first 50, she was not close enough to catch a fast moving Haley Cope (USA). Cope finished first in 59.03 to Gao's 59. 61. In for third was Sophie Edington (AUS) in 59.64.

Men's 100 Fly Final
Ian Crocker (USA) looked great. His start was tight, his stroke powerful, and his walls better than the entire field. The only person better than Ian was himself last March's when he broke the world record. Otherwise, his race was good enough for the win and a new Championship record of 50.18. In for Britain's second silver of the night was James Hickman (GBR) with a 51.13, just ahead of a very happy Peter Mankoc (SLO) in 51.66.

Women's 100 IM Semi Final
Less than an hour after winning the 50 breast, Brooke Hanson dominated the semis of the IM with a 1:00.04 win in semi number two. Martina Moravcova (SVK) sits in second with a 1:01.16, followed by Amanda Beard with a 1:01.29. In the first semi it was 32 year old Alison Sheppard (GBR) who touched first in 1:01.72 ahead of Katie Hoff (USA) who went a 1:01.73.

Women's 800 Free Final
Kate Ziegler (USA) a 16 year-old, in her first international competition, took the 800 out hard and fast, flipping first at the 400 in 4:07.27. World record holder Sachiko Yamada (JPN) wasn't going to make it easy though for the young American. Yamada battled back, flipping even with Ziegler at the 550 mark and slowly pulling away to touch first in 8:18.21. While that time is 5 seconds over her best, she has never won a major race before and was thrilled to finally get the job done. Ziegler finished in a best time of 8:20.55, while Melissa Gorman (AUS) took bronze in 8:25.38.

Men's 4x200 Free Final
Thirty-two men, only one of whom is an individual Olympic medallist (Ryan Lochte, USA) and another a relay medallist (Nicholas Sprenger, AUS), lined up for the final event of the night. Lochte and Sprenger led the US-Aussie battle, with Lochte touching first. Chad Carvin was next in the water for the US, up against Andrew Mewing. But the Brazilians were not to be left out. They stayed with both teams through the 500, until Aussie Brendan Hughes pulled away from Brazil and Dan Ketchum pulled the US away from Australia. The final legs of Justin Mortimer, USA and Joshua Krogh, AUS were fantastic. Krogh pulled even with Mortimer at the 750 mark and flipped first at the 775, but Mortimer was not going to let it go that easy. From what seemed an impossible spot, he came back and won the race 7:03.71 to 7:03.78, and the crowd went absolutely wild!