After erasing Thorpe’s 7-year-old record, Biedermann beats Phelps at swim worlds

After topping Thorpe, Biedermann takes down Phelps

ROME — First Ian Thorpe, then Michael Phelps.

Unheralded Paul Biedermann took down a hallowed world record held by Thorpe on the opening day of swimming at the world championships, then handed Phelps his first major loss in four years on the third day at Foro Italico.

“Ian Thorpe is a swimming legend and Michael Phelps is a living legend. I feel proud for both (feats),” Biedermann said. “When I was younger I watched both of them.”

The 22-year-old German broke the Australian’s seven-year-old record in the 400-meter freestyle, then soundly beat Phelps in the 200 free on Tuesday.

Biedermann clocked 1 minute, 42 seconds, knocking nearly a second off Phelps’ previous mark from the Beijing Olympics. Phelps touched second in 1:43.22.

“My coach said Michael couldn’t be beat at the start and the turns. The only way to beat him is swimming,” Biedermann said.

Phelps’ coach Bob Bowman and nearly everyone else at Foro Italico attributed the upset to Biedermann’s high-tech swimsuit from Arena, the 100 percent polyurethane X-Glide. Phelps is still wearing last year’s Speedo LZR, which is less than half polyurethane.

“The suits make you go out with no energy cost, much less energy cost, so at the end you have a punch,” Bowman said. “Michael had to work so hard to stay with him for 150, then it’s just not there at the end. That’s what the suits do.

“I mean you got to figure in the 200 that suit is good for a second and a half. If Michael was a second and a half, it would be pretty good, right? In the 400 it’s worth about three seconds, I think.”

Biedermann was getting tired of the swimsuit accusations.

“It’s FINA’s problem. They should handle it really fast,” he said. “Of course the suits make a difference. Last year it was the Speedo, this year it’s Arena.

“I’m not angry, but I’m a little sad it’s all about the suits. It’s still the athlete who has to train and swim the race. The athlete is still more important.”

All bodysuits for men will be banned next year.

“I hope there will be a time I can beat Michael Phelps without these suits,” Biedermann said. “I hope next year or really soon.”

Despite surprising Phelps, Biedermann was not a complete unknown in the swimming community. In November, he broke Thorpe’s eight-year-old, short-course world record in the 200 free.

“Biedermann has been very strong since he was very young,” Italy coach Alberto Castagnetti said. “He didn’t burst out of nowhere. Phelps is not in top form. Let’s see what happens when they’re both in top form.”