American, 18, is first male swimmer to set two records in different events (100 butterfly, 200 IM) on the same day.
By Associated Press
Published July 26, 2003
BARCELONA, Spain - It was a day like no male swimmer ever had.
Michael Phelps set world records in two events Friday at the World Swimming Championships, and he did it in less than an hour.
None of swimming's greats - not Mark Spitz, Matt Biondi or Ian Thorpe, the sport's current star - managed to set records in two individual events on the same day. Phelps turned in his unprecedented swims in the 100-meter butterfly (51.47 seconds) and the 200 individual medley (1:56.04).
Though the American is the first man to do it, East Germany's Kornelia Ender matched the feat in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly at the 1976 Olympics.
Through six days of the worlds, Phelps has lowered world records four times in three events. And a few more could go this weekend.
When he was 15, Phelps became the youngest man to set a world mark. Now 18, he seems unfazed by his accomplishments. When the scoreboard showed he had broken the 200 IM record, he bounded up and down in the pool, smiling broadly and wagging both index fingers above his head.
"I wouldn't say anything is impossible," Phelps said. "I think that everything is possible as long as you put your mind to it and you put the work and time into it. I think your mind really controls everything."
Phelps holds four world records - more than any current swimmer. He has two golds and one silver (800 freestyle relay) at worlds, with three events left.
Phelps has yet to win an Olympic medal. That test comes next year in Athens, where the 6-foot-4 Phelps has a chance to supplant Thorpe as the sport's top star and match Spitz's record of seven golds set in 1972.
"I think he's getting in the league with Ian Thorpe," said Bob Bowman, Phelps' coach. "He's clearly the guy who's swimming at the cutting edge of his events. But before Michael can be named the No. 1 swimmer in the world, he has to have an Olympic performance that matches this."
Friday's 45-minute frenzy started when Ukraine's Andrii Serdinov lowered the world mark in the 100 butterfly semifinals (51.76). His mark was topped five minutes later by Phelps (51.47) in the second heat.
Then Phelps obliterated a record he set Thursday in the IM semifinals. His 1:56.04 was 11/2 seconds better. In six days at worlds, nine world marks have been broken and one equaled.
Also Friday, Amanda Beard won the 200 breaststroke in 2:22.99, matching the world mark China's Qi Hui set two years ago. The United States beat Italy 8-6 to win the women's water polo title.
