Peirsol passed in 200 back

MELBOURNE, Australia — Aaron Peirsol’s reign in the 200-meter backstroke is over. At least for now.

The Newport Harbor High product, who had not lost in the 200 back since the 2000 Olympics, finished second to Ryan Lochte, who broke Peirsol’s world record, finishing in one minute, 54.32 seconds at the FINA World Championships. Peirsol’s former record was 1:54.44.

Peirsol, the world and Olympic champion, was under his own world-record pace through 150 meters, but Lochte passed him over the last 50 meters. Peirsol finished in 1:54.80.

“He definitely earned it,” Peirsol, 23, told the Associated Press. “I didn’t have it where I usually have it. This will be a good year for me to be motivated.”

Lochte did not expect to beat Peirsol. The 22-year-old admitted to sneaking a peek at the scoreboard to see how far behind he was before the final turn.

“I just looked up at the scoreboard to see where I was, probably shouldn’t have done that, but I did and I saw I was with him and moved my arms faster and just kicked,” Lochte told reporters. “I still don’t think it’s true, what the scoreboard is saying, it’s a lie.”

Lochte returned later to swim on the world record-setting 800 freestyle relay, along with Michael Phelps, Klete Keller and Peter Vanderkaay.

Phelps has broken four individual records at the Worlds to help the American dominate in Australia. They have set 10 world records. The U.S. team has won 13 golds, nine silvers and one bronze to lead the medal count.