Phelps becomes first swimmer to win seven golds at a championships

Apr 1, 2007, 10:30 GMT

Michael Phelps of the US prepares for the start of the men\'s 400m individual medley swimming final at the World Swimming Championships in Melbourne on Sunday, 01 April 2007. Phelps won the race in a new world record time of 4:06.22. EPA/ROLAND SCHLAGER

Melbourne - US swimming star Michael Phelps on Sunday became the first person to win seven gold medals at a single world championship as he won the 400m medley in world record time.

His time of four minutes 06.22 seconds shaved an enormous 2.04 seconds off his old record that he had set in 2004.

His compatriot Ryan Lochte took the silver in 4:09.74, while the bronze went to Luca Marin in 4:09.88.

Phelps will leave these championships with seven gold medals and five world records from his 16 races. He was on track for a historic eight gold medals, but the 4x100m medley relay team was disqualified in the heats earlier Sunday.

The outstanding athlete at this championship was philosophical about losing out on the chance of an eighth gold medal.

'We come to these championships as a team and things sometimes don't happen as we want them to. Better this year than next year at the Olympics,' he said.

South African Gerhard Zandberg won his country's second gold medal in Melbourne with victory in the men's 50m backstroke in a time of 24.98.

German world record holder Thomas Rupprath was second in 25.20 seconds, while the bronze went to Briton Liam Tancock.

US swimmer Jessica Hardy took the gold in the women's 50m breaststroke. Her time of 30.63 beat local favourite Leisel Jones by just 0.07 seconds. The bronze was won by fellow-US swimmer Tara Kirk.

'I just went out there to have a good race. I am happy. It's my personal best and probably a US record. I just felt very strong,' Hardy said.