INDIANAPOLIS — Aaron Peirsol took temporary custody of the 200-meter backstroke world record. With all the controversy about the high-tech suits dominating the pool these days, the true owner may not be decided for a few more weeks.
Peirsol broke the record at U.S. nationals Saturday night, beating previous owner Ryan Lochte while lowering his second world mark in three days.
The Olympic silver medalist touched in 1 minute, 53.08 seconds, bettering Olympic champion Lochte’s old mark of 1:53.94 set in Beijing.
“I’m elated I went that fast, but the real work is in two weeks,” Peirsol said, referring to the upcoming world championships in Rome.
That’s where Peirsol, Lochte and Ryosuke Irie of Japan are expected to decide who truly owns that record.
Irie swam 1:52.86 at a meet in Australia on May 10, but the sport’s world governing body, FINA, refused to ratify the mark because he was wearing a suit it deemed illegal.
“That’s a great thing to have that for the next two weeks, but I’m well aware that’s probably not even the world record right now,” said Peirsol, who wore the once-banned Arena X-Glide.
Having broken two world records in three days, Peirsol made a rare boast.
“I feel like if I race the way I can, I don’t think he can touch me,” he said of Irie.
In other events, Cullen Jones lowered the American record in the 50 freestyle, touching in 21.41 seconds to better the mark of 21.47 set by Garrett Weber- Gale.
Also, Eric Shanteau completed a successful comeback meet, winning the 200 breaststroke 10 months after being declared free of testicular cancer; 17-year-old Chloe Sutton won the 800 freestyle; Dana Voll- mer qualified for her third individual event in Rome by winning the 100 freestyle; and Rebecca Soni won the 200 breaststroke.
