Biedermann seals second world record in Berlin

German swimmer Paul Biedermann earned his second world record at the short course World Cup on Sunday in Berlin.

The 23-year-old Biedermann finished in one minute and 39.37 seconds to improve his own 2008 record in 200m freestyle, slashing off 1.46 seconds.

With the mark, he became the first swimmer to stay beyond the 100- second-mark.

American star Phelps, who won eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, resigned the duel over 200-meter freestyle against Bidermann.

Phelps had no chances over 200-meter medley against South African swimmer Darian Townsend, who swam the world record in one minute and 51.55 seconds.

Townsend cut the record 1/100 seconds under the old mark set by American Ryan Lochte in April 2008.

The second day of the meeting produced again a flurry of world records.

Chinese swimmer Liu Zige equalized her old record over 200-meter butterfly in two minutes and 00.78 seconds. She was 1.72 seconds faster than last Wednesday in Stockholm.

Also, Japanese swimmer Shiho Sakain improved her world record of February of about 82/100 seconds to 55.23 seconds.

Other world records were set up by American swimmer Jessica Hardy in 50m breaststroke in 28.80 seconds; South African Cameron van der Burgh in 100m breaststroke in 55.61 seconds; Russian Jewgeni Korotischkin in 100m butterfly in 48.48 seconds; Australian Leisel Jones in 200m breaststroker in 2 minutes and 15.42 seconds, and Dutch Hinkelien Schreuder in 100m medley in 57.74 seconds.

Source: Xinhua