Flash! Peirsol Smashes Own 200 meter Backstroke World Record

LONG BEACH, Calif., July 12. THE water was still churning and the capacity crowd of 10,000 still buzzing at the US Olympic Trials in Long Beach, California, when Michael Phelps and Aaron Peirsol jumped into the water for the start of the men's 200 metres backstroke.

In one of the most eagerly anticipated races of these Trials, both men took the race out hard, with both turning at 100 meters under the world record pace Peirsol had established in 2002.

Peirsol led all the way, lengthening his lead on each of the four laps.

At the wall it was Peirsol touching in 1:54.74, more than half a second under his previous mark of 1:55.15. Phelps finished second in 1:55.86.

Peirsol's splits:
50m: :27.18
100m :55.98
150m 1:25.29
200m 1:54.74

Afterwards, Peirsol said: "This really means a lot to me. The 200 back record is like my baby. I want to take care of it."

"My strategy was to stay ahead of Michael in the first 100 (meters), then pull away. That's what I did."

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