Phelps gets another gold as US wins 800 free relay, breaking its world record in Rome

Phelps gets another gold leading off for US relay

ROME — Michael Phelps has earned his third gold medal of the world championships, and the United States has set the 35th world record in Rome, winning the 800-meter freestyle relay.

Phelps swam the leadoff leg and was again bested by Germany’s Paul Biedermann, who handed off with more than a 1½ second lead over the American star.

But the U.S. has the deeper team. Ricky Berens seized the lead on the second 200, David Walters maintained the margin and Ryan Lochte held off Russia’s Alexander Sukhorukov on the sprint to the wall, touching in 6 minutes, 58.55 seconds — a hundredth of a second ahead of the U.S. record set in Beijing.

Russia took the silver, and Australia claimed the bronze.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

ROME (AP) — Milorad Cavic sent quite a message heading into his showdown with Michael Phelps in the 100-meter butterfly, setting a world record and nearly becoming the first swimmer to break 50 seconds.

The Serbian, who still believes he beat Phelps at the Beijing Olympics, got off to his usual strong start — a second under the world-record pace at the turn — and held on at the end for a time of 50.01 in Friday’s semifinals. That broke the mark of 50.22 set by Phelps at the U.S. nationals on July 9.

Phelps won the other semifinal in 50.48, the second-fastest time and ensuring that he’ll swim right next to Cavic in Saturday night’s final.

Cavic’s record was the 34th of the meet.