Biedermann unseats Phelps in 200-m free

CBC Sports ^ | July 28, 2009 | CBC Sports

[Berlin_Freeper]

German Paul Biedermann has ended Michael Phelps's domination of the men's 200-metre freestyle, smashing the American's world record on Tuesday en route to a gold medal at the World Aquatics Championships in Rome.

Biedermann raced to a time of 1 minute, 42 seconds, eclipsing the mark of 1:42.96 the American set at last year's Beijing Olympics.

Phelps finished a full body length behind the German in 1:43.22. Russia's Danila Izotov took the bronze in 1:43.90.

-Phelps is coming off a long layoff that included a three-month suspension resulting from a photo fallout showing the Olympic great inhaling from a marijuana pipe.

[Berlin_Freeper]

I thought it was bad enough when Phelps was inhaling from a marijuana pipe, but then when he lost to Biedermann he left the pool without even congratulating the winner - and they were swimming right next to each other.

Oh well - I like Phelps, I hope this experience helps him get his head straightened out.

Congratulations to Biedermann who earned a great achievement!

[Fractal Trader]

I guess the pot made him eat more munchies than he should have.

[cschroe]

Well, except Biederman was wearing one of them there suits that is going to be banned after this competition. I think every world record broken (and some big records were broken, multiple times) there has been by someone in those suits.

When Biederman meets Phelps again down the line, without his ulra-bouyant suit, he’ll be choking on Phelps’ wake once again.

[SmokingJoe]

I like Phelps too, but yeah, he could have been a bit more gracious after losing.
Having said that, there is no question that Biedermann’s new swimming suit did quite a bit of his swimming for him. That earlier 400 meters freestyle swim of his , where he smashed Ian Thorpe's what, 6 year old record was just insane.
It's too bad FINA never banned these space-age suits before these World Championships. Heck it seems all you gotta do is just jump in the pool in one of these new suits, and you set a new world record already. They are not just breaking these world records, they are taking them apart by huge margins. It's getting ridiculous at this World Championship. And the records they are setting this week, are going to take yewars to break, after they ban these new suits for subsequent competitions.
I can understand Phelp's loyalty to Speedo after they have backed him since he was like 15. He just couldn't bring himself to just dump them and use one of them new fangled hot suits from another manufacturer. Anyhow, we'll see how really good Biedermann is when he has to face Phelps in London, without his gee-whiz swimming suit to back him up.

[SmokingJoe]

Pretty much.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Phelps loses in swimming championships "I'm not pleased," Phelps said, acknowledging he wasn't in the best shape after taking six months off to revel in his great haul of China.

But Biedermann's performance stirred up even more debate about the high-tech bodysuits that are being banned by the sport's governing body beginning in 2010. Biedermann wore an Arena X-Glide, one of those polyurethane suits that is generally considered faster than the Speedo LZR Racer, the once-revolutionary suit Phelps wore.

"The suits make a difference," Biedermann said. "Last year, it was Speedo. This year, it's Arena.

"I hope there will be a time when I can beat Michael Phelps without these suits," the German added. "I hope next year. I hope it's really soon."

[Berlin_Freeper]

Germany's Paul Biedermann reacts after winning the gold medal in the Men's 200m Freestyle as Michael Phelps is seen in background, at the FINA Swimming World Championships, in Rome, Tuesday, July 28, 2009.

[lado]

You want a solution to this swimming suit flap? Have ‘em all swim naked. :)

[Blueflag]

Amen. USA Today (McPaper) had a good article on it today. Sports section, page 8C.

My kids are competitive swimmers, and they can attest that these suits, especially the full-body $400 super suits, really do take time off.

My daughter dropped nearly 1 sec off her 50m free-style time after donning one. She and her bros are OK with the sport saying “no” to these super suits. The guys also like them ‘cause it means you don’t have to leg/body shave.

p.s.

[bondjamesbond]

Biedermann demolished Phelps’ World Record.

Phelps did not lose this race so much as Biedermann won it. If you knock almost a second off the World Record, you’re going to win the race.

Phelps should have shown more class and congratulated Biedermann. He is going to have to get used to losing. It is as inevitable as the tides.

[SmokingJoe]

Thanks for the links.
Now the next really tough battle is going to be the one between Phelps and Cavic, the Serbian guy that Phelps beat in the 100 fly, literally by the tips of his finger nails in Beijing in 2008 at the Olympics. Cavic is using one of them new fangled suits too, and has sworn to take out Phelps in revenge for Beijing. According to him he lost to Phelps through technology in Beijing (he still insists he touched first, but the Omega device did not register his touch because he didn't press hard enough. He is wrong though. Phelps did out touch him), so he is fine with using the technology of the new suit to beat Phelps this time. Cavic already shattered the 50 meter fly world record this week. Should be an exciting race.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Yeah, but then the franks and beans flapping about would add to the drag...