Serb sets world record in 100 fly heading into showdown with Phelps

Published 5:00 am Saturday, August 1, 2009

ROME Michael Phelps wouldnt take the bait. Hell settle this one at the pool, in the race that really matters, wearing his same ol suit.

Milorad Cavic can have the spotlight. For now.

Still convinced he beat Phelps at the Beijing Olympics, Cavic took some verbal jabs at Phelps on Friday then took away his world record in the semifinals of the 100-meter butterfly.

They know Im a player, Cavic boasted. They know Ive got a great deal of speed.

Phelps wasnt too bothered about giving up his record.

He knows the real race is today.

I try to keep most comments to myself to fire me up on the inside, Phelps said, savoring his third gold medal of the championships after leading off for the Americans in the 800 freestyle relay. Ive had success doing that in the past, and Im not about to start making comments now. Ill let the swimming do my talking.

Cavic takes a different approach. If theres something on his mind, hell say it. He doesnt really care who he offends even the guy who won eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics.

After the morning prelims, Cavic said hes tired of hearing complaints from the Phelps camp about competing in an inferior suit, even offering to buy him one of the polyurethane models responsible for most of the worlds records at the Foro Italico.

In the evening semifinals, Cavic nearly became the first swimmer to break 50 seconds, settling for a world record of 50.01 in his speedy Arena X-Glide suit. Phelps was the second-fastest qualifier at 50.48.

I didnt want to go out so fast, but I had so much energy in my body that I couldnt help it, said Cavic, who broke Phelps mark of 50.22. Im capable of swimming under 50, which would be enough to win the gold.

The two will be side-by-side tonight in the rematch of their thrilling race in China, won by Phelps by the smallest margin possible a hundredth of a second.

Less than an hour after his 100 fly semi, Phelps took the leadoff leg of the 800 freestyle relay won by the United States with a world record of 6 minutes, 58.55 seconds one-hundredth of a second faster than its gold medal time at the Olympics.

Aaron Peirsol broke his own world record in the 200 backstroke by more than a full second, his time of 1:51.92 wiping out the mark of 1:53.08 he set at the U.S. nationals three weeks ago.

Two Americans endured bitter disappointments.

Eric Shanteau, who put off treatment for testicular cancer after qualifying for Beijing, was edged out for gold in the 200 breaststroke by the narrowest of margins. He appeared to be ahead the final time his head popped out the water, but his glide to the wall was a little too long. Hungarys Daniel Gyurta touched in 2:07.64. Shanteaus time was 2:07.65.

Rebecca Soni was cruising along in the womens 200 breaststroke, 1.5 seconds ahead of world-record pace halfway through a race she won in Beijing. But Soni clearly went out too fast and left nothing in the tank for the finish. She fell from first to fourth on the last lap out of the medals. Serbias Nadja Higl raced by to claim gold, Canadas Annamay Pierse took silver and Austrias Mirna Jukic got bronze.

Four world records were set in the first three events of the night, not long after governing body FINA announced its ban on bodysuits would take effect the first day of 2010. It might take years, even decades to surpass the technology assisted times of these championships.