The winner draped himself triumphantly on the lane rope, thrusting his right hand in the air to celebrate a world record.
It's a familiar scene for Michael Phelps. This time, all he could do was watch.
Germany's Paul Biedermann handed Phelps his first major individual loss in four years — and snatched away his world record, too — with a stunning win in the 200-meter freestyle at the world swimming championships on Tuesday.
Virtually unknown outside his country before this meet, Biedermann has now erased Ian Thorpe from the record book with a win in the 400 free and knocked off the winningest Olympian in history — all in the space of three days.
Both triumphs are sure to stir even more debate about the high-tech bodysuits that are being banned by the sport's governing body beginning in 2010. Biedermann wore an Arena X-Glide, one of those polyurethane suits that is generally considered faster than the Speedo LZR Racer, the once-revolutionary suit Phelps wore.
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[7/29] After loss, Phelps sets world record.
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[7/31] Cavic takes world record ahead of Phelps showdown
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[8/1] Phelps sets world mark in beating Cavic again in 100 butterfly
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