Swimming: Peirsol sets world record in 200m backstroke

Aaron Peirsol set a world record in the 200m backstroke and handed Michael Phelps his first loss at the American Olympic trials in Long Beach, California yesterday.

It was one of two world marks set yesterday, the other by Amanda Beard in the women's 200m breastroke.

Peisol and Phelps were under record pace for the first three laps, but Peirsol led all the way and pulled away on the final leg for a time of 1m 54.74s - - breaking his own mark of 1m 55.15s set two years ago.

Phelps took the second Olympic spot at 1m 55.86s, but found out how difficult it will be to race in so many events against specialised swimmers.

He has entered six individual events at the trials, hoping to compete in up to nine races at the Athens Games.

Peirsol is a backstroker exclusively, having gone nearly four years since his last loss in the 200m.

On the other hand, the 19-year-old Phelps already had raced a preliminary in the morning, and he has three more races today.

He has qualified for the Olympics in five events and is a heavy favourite in the 200m individual medley today.

Beard clocked 2m 22.44s to reclaim the world mark from Australian Leisel Jones, who set the record at 2m 22.96s in Brisbane on Saturday.

Beard's win gave her the breaststroke double at the trials after an earlier win in the 100m event.