SWIMMING AND DIVING / WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS : Darnyi Sets World Record in 400 Individual Medley

PERTH, Australia —  Things went from bad to worse for the U.S Tuesday at the World Swimming Championships.

As Tamas Darnyi got Hungary’s second world record in two days, all the Americans got was shutout.

Darnyi shaved 2.39 seconds off his own world mark in the men’s 400-meter individual medley, lowering it to 4:12.36. He joined countryman Norbert Rozsa in the 100 breaststroke as a world record-setter at the championships.

The U.S., expected to possibly win three gold medals Tuesday, did not win a single event.

Janet Evans won a silver medal in the 200-meter freestyle and the men’s 800 freestyle relay also won a silver medal.

Unlike Monday, when Nicole Haislett’s early start cost the U.S. a gold medal in the women’s 800-freestyle relay, there were no disqualifications.

“Our best days are yet to come,” Evans said. “We had a few disappointments but we know we swam really fast in the (women’s) 800 relay. We’re doing OK.”

In the men’s 400-meter individual medley, Eric Namesnik of the U.S. followed Darnyi in American-record time of 4:15.21. Dave Wharton was sixth in 4:20.19.

Hayley Lewis of Australia won the 200 freestyle in 2:00.48. Evans finished in 2:00.67 and Haislett, the fastest qualifier, was fourth in 2:01.13.

Anthony Nesty of Surinam, the gold medalist at the 1988 Olympics, won the 100-meter butterfly by defeating 1984 Olympic champion Michael Gross of Germany by the length of a wrist, 53.29-53.31. Mark Henderson of the U.S. was fourth in 53.88 and Matt Biondi finished sixth in 53.97.

Gross swam the final 200 meters of the 800 relay in 1:46.86 to lead Germany to the gold medal in a meet record 7:13.50, 1.37 seconds ahead of the Americans.

The only race the United States entered the night with no hopes of winning was the women’s 200 breaststroke.

Elena Volkova of the Soviet Union won in 2:29.58. Both American entries, Mary Ellen Blanchard and Jill Johnson were eliminated in morning heats.

The U.S got its second gold medal of the championships when twins Karen and Sarah Josephson won the synchronized swimming duet with a world-best score of 199.762 points.