Performance of the Week: Dec. 18, 2012

PHOENIX, Arizona, December 18. IN the past couple of weeks it's been tough to choose the best performance of the week among a wide variety of swims around the world, but this week it was very easy. No one performed better at the short course world championships than Ryan Lochte, who beat his own record of winning the most medals, earning eight of them this year.

Even more impressive was his two world records, the only new global standards set at the meet. He broke his own world record in the 200 IM with a 1:49.63, getting under the 1:50 barrier for the first time, then posted a 50.71 in the 100 IM in that event's semifinals.

The short course worlds was Lochte's reaffirmation of his status as the best swimmer in the world, after a subpar meet at the London Olympics. We'll see how well this meet carries over into a successful 2013 for Lochte.

Congratulations, Ryan. You've won our Performance of the Week!

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