A stunner: Biedermann turns bogeyman for Phelps

Critics will allege a performance-enhancing polyurethane suit was crucial to his wins but the 22-year-old still basked in the glory on a night where four world records fell.

8220;It was a really amazing race. My coach told me before the race: 8216;Phelps will beat you on the start and on the turns 8211; the only way to beat him is in the swimming8217;,8221; a beaming Biedermann told reporters after clocking one minute 42 seconds.

8220;It8217;s all about the suits,it8217;s not about the swimmer anymore. That makes me mad. The suit matters but the athlete is still more important.8221;

Governing body FINA earlier ratified last week8217;s decision to dump polyurethane costumes from next year and return to textile suits and shorts for men.

Second-placed Phelps,who won a record eight golds at last year8217;s Olympics,was gracious in defeat after seeing his world record 1:42.96 from Beijing obliterated.

8220;I8217;m really disappointed. But if you look at it,it8217;s my second best time ever. He8217;s just in better shape than I am,8221; the 24-year-old said after swimming 1:43.22.

PACKED STANDS

Phelps,recently back from a six-month layoff that included a three-month ban for being photographed inhaling from a pipe used for smoking marijuana,was wearing Speedo8217;s LZR suit.

The costume was the first of the new breed but has been usurped by the likes of Jaked and Arena models in recent months.

The American looked forward to the new rules.

8220;I think it is going to be fun next year. Swimming is back to swimming. Hopefully next summer we will really be able to go head-to-head and I8217;ll be in jammers long trunks,8221; he said.

Phelps has already taken his world championship gold medal tally to 18 after the U.S. team won the 4215;100 freestyle relay on Sunday while on Tuesday he qualified second for Wednesday8217;s 200 butterfly final. He swims the 100 fly later in the week.

Moments after the packed stands had come to terms with Biedermann8217;s triumph,Britain8217;s Gemma Spofforth stunned them again by smashing another world record in the women8217;s 100 backstroke final with a swim of 58.12 seconds.

She beat the mark set by Anastasia Zueva on Monday.

South Africa8217;s Cameron van der Burgh then destroyed the men8217;s 50 breaststroke world record in his semi-final,streaking through the open-air pool in 26.74 seconds.

Swimmers usually aim for records in finals but such is the nature of these championships that no race is safe.

Italian Federica Pellegrini,who surged to victory and a world record in Sunday8217;s 400 freestyle final,improved her own best ever mark in the 200 semis.

Despite being sixth in the morning heats,Pellegrini caught the mood of her exuberant supporters and charged to a 1:53.67.

After six world records fell on Sunday and five on Monday,it was almost a surprise that only four were broken on the third day of racing.

Home favourite Alessia Filippi managed a championship record of 15:44.93 when holding off Dane Lotte Friis to win the 1,500 freestyle final while Japan8217;s Junya Koga grabbed gold in the men8217;s 100 backstroke in another worlds meet record of 52.26.