Ryan Lochte sets second world record in Istanbul

ISTANBUL - Agence France-Presse

US swimming star Lochte has shattered two world records in Istanbul. EPA photo

American star Ryan Lochte kept up his phenomenal form at the World Short Course Championships on Dec. 15 when he set a world record 50.71 in the men’s 100m individual medley semifinals in Istanbul.

A day earlier, the five-time Olympic champion broke the 200m individual medley world record on his way to winning his fourth gold of the championships. He was already under world-record time by the end of the butterfly leg and he continued to eat into it over the following three laps.

Australia’s Kenneth To recorded the second fastest time with 51.47 and George Bovell of Trinidad and Tobago was third with 51.66 at the Sinan Erdem Dome.

Lochte had a shot of adding two more medals to his tally as the World Championships were to end late yesterday.

“I have the 200m backstroke final [before the 100m individual medley final] on Sunday so I knew if I wanted any shot at this record, it had to be tonight,” said Lochte, who knocked .05 seconds off the old mark set by Slovenia’s Peter Mankoc in 2009.

“I messed up in a couple of places tonight so I know there is some room for improvement.”

In the women’s 200m individual medley, China’s Ye Shiwen attacked in the final 25m to win gold as she touched the wall in 2:04.64 to record a championship record and win her first world short course gold.
“I’m so happy I came in first today. It feels so good,” said 16-year-old Ye, who stunned the sport at the Olympics when she captured gold in the 200m and 400m medleys.

Ruta Meilutyte added the 100m breaststroke title to the 50m breaststroke gold that she won earlier last week.