/ Source: The Associated Press
Ryan Lochte has upset defending champion Aaron Peirsol in the 200-meter backstroke at the Beijing Olympics, winning in a world-record time and dashing his teammate’s hopes of completing a backstroke sweep for the second consecutive games.
Lochte took the lead over the final 50 meters and touched in 1 minute, 53.94 seconds, lowering the world mark of 1:54.32 that he and Peirsol had shared for more than a month.
Peirsol earned the silver in 1:54.33. Arkady Vyatchanin of Russia, who led the first 150 meters, took the bronze in 1:54.93.
Peirsol had already won the 100 back in world-record time.