Lochte upsets Peirsol to win 200 backstroke gold

MELBOURNE, March 30 (Reuters) Ryan Lochte of the United States broke the world record to win the 200 metres backstroke final at the world swimming championships today.

Lochte powered his way through the Susie O'Neill pool in a time of one minute 54.32 seconds to slice 0.12 off the previous record of 1:54.44 set by his fellow American Aaron Peirsol last year.

Peirsol came second in 1:54.80 after the pair burst clear of the field to fight out the finish. Austria's Markus Rogan took the bronze medal in 1:56.02.

Peirsol won the 200 world title in 2001, 2003 and 2005 and was bidding to join Australian long-distance freestyler Grant Hackett as the only swimmers to win the same event at four championships.

Lochte, 22, collected his first gold medal of the championships after finishing second to Peirsol in the 100 backstroke final and second to Michael Phelps in 200 individual medley.

REUTERS SAM RK1540