BEIJING – Michael Phelps continued his supremacy of the swimming events on Friday morning, with a world-record victory in the 200 metres individual medley of 1:54.23 (24.59, 53.40, 1:26.90).

He bettered his previoius mark set at this year’s trials of 1:54.80. Laszlo Cseh of Hungary won the silver medal in a European record of 1:56.52 that improves the time of 1:56.92 set at the Melbourne world championships on March 29, 2007.

World record evolution (Time, Name/Nationality, Place, Date):

1:54.80 Michael Phelps USA Omaha 04.07.08
1:54.98 Michael Phelps USA Melbourne 29.03.07
1:55.84 Michael Phelps USA Victoria 21.08.06
1:55.94 Michael Phelps USA College Park 09.08.03
1:56.04 Michael Phelps USA Barcelona 24.07.03