Michael Phelps breaks Thorpedo's World Record

Michael Phelps has smashed Ian Thorpe's world 200m freestyle record, recording a time of one minute 43.86 seconds to defend his world title at the 12th FINA World Championships.

The expected battle between Phelps and Dutchman Pieter Van Den Hoogenband did not eventuate, with the American blowing the 2000 Olympic gold medallist away in the final 100 metres of the race.

In the end, the biggest battle was between Phelps and the clock, and the American sensation won out, breaking the championship and world mark set by the Australian in the 2001 world championships in Fukuoka by 0.20 of a second.

He becomes the first swimmer to set a new world mark in the Susie O'Neill Pool, and adds this gold to the one he won in the men's 4 x 100m relay.

Already the most successful swimmer in world championships history before this event, Phelps has now built the foundation of a championships that could yield eight gold medals.


I will say Phelps is not the cutest boy but he is the best male swimmer in the world today, to celebrate what will be a huge week in the pool at the 12th FINA World Championships for him I have posted some great pictures of him below.