example-image
Connect with Us:  

Phillips 66 Nationals - Day 4

Mar 31, 2001

Phelps Breaks 200m Fly World Record

Courtesy US Swimming
Austin, Texas - First Ed Moses, then Anthony Robinson. Now North Baltimore swimmer Michael Phelps adds his name to the list of world record-holders, newly crowned at the Phillips 66 Spring National Championships. Phelps, a 15-year-old from Baltimore, Md., became not only the world record-holder in the 200m fly, but he also is the first person to break the 1:55.00 barrier with his 1:54.92 and the youngest American male to break a world record. Phelps and former world record-holder Tom Malchow of Club Wolverine put on quite a show as the two kept neck-and-neck the entire race. Malchow, who had been fighting a cold, was just off his best time in the prelims, posting a 1:55.60, just off his world mark of 1:55.18, set in June of 2000.

"I knew something was going to happen after I took my first breath off the third wall," Phelps said. "I could hear the crowd. I knew whoever got to the wall first was going to get the world record. I thought if I was out with Malchow, then I would definitely have a shot."

"Yesterday I could barely drink water," Malchow, who is on antiobiotics, said. "I could barely swallow. But that's not the reason I got beat. The reason I got beat was a very talented young man."

Another world record nearly fell in the 200m breast, as Curl-Burke's Ed Moses flirted with Mike Barrowman's mark, but in the end wound up with the U.S. Open record with a 2:10.40, just shy of the 2:10.16 and the second-fastest time ever. Moses will get another shot at the record at the World Championships. Texan Brendan Hansen touched second, likely earning him a World champs berth as well.

"I can't complain, that time would have won me the gold medal in Sydney," Moses said. "That record has been put on a pedestal for 10 years and I want to be the one to approach that standard. The message is out across the world that it's not going to be a walk in the park to walk away with two golds (at World Championships)."

Moses is thinking about doing a time trial in the 100m breast tomorrow to try to break the 50m breast world record, set by Anthony Robinson earlier this week at 27.49.

"I'd really like to get all three (world records)," Moses said.

Anthony Ervin and Jason Lezak secured spots on the World team by going one-two in the 100m free. Neil Walker and Greg Busse finished third and fourth, respectively, to get on the team for the relays.

"I didn't think I would win with how I felt after NCAAs," Ervin said. "In the 50, I'll toss the dice and see how they fall. That's how the 50 is."

Lindsay Benko, Colleen Lanne, Stefanie Williams and Diana Munz took the top four spots in the 200m free to earn spots on the World team. Maggie Bowen and Cristina Teuscher took first and second in the 200m IM. Kaitlin Sandeno qualified for her third event at Worlds while winning her second title at this meet, touching first in the 200m fly. Shelly Ripple earned a trip to Japan with a second-place finish in the 200m fly.

Phelps' record is the second to come from the North Baltimore club team. Phelps' teammate Anita Nall set the world mark in the 200m breaststroke at the 1992 U.S. Olympic Trials.