Sun eclipses oldest world record

Sun was more than two seconds off Hacketts pace with four laps to go,but ignored fatigue and accelerated on the final two laps to finish in 14 minutes,34.14 seconds,improving on Hacketts mark of 14:34.56 set at the 2001 worlds in Fukuoka,Japan. I was not obsessed with the world record before the final,because I wanted to focus on my plan, Sun said. My goal is to win the gold. Im so grateful to the whole Chinese team,including my coach and my parents as well,and I think the world record belongs to all of them.

After the race,Sun was congratulated on Sina weibo Chinas version of Twitter by Liu Xiang,the 2004 Olympic gold medalist and a former world record holder in the 110m hurdles and a sports hero in China. I think Liu Xiang created history in 2004. I watched the games on TV and after he won the gold medal,I was very excited. I thought some day,I will be like him, Sun said. In the past few years,Ive had to train a lot and I think now its paid off.

Breaking the barrier

The crowd at the Oriental Sports Centre provided loud support over the final laps,erupting into more joy when the clock stopped four-tenths of a second inside Hacketts mark. It was only the second world record to fall in swimming since high-tech bodysuits were banned 19 months ago and Hacketts record had been the only mark to withstand the record deluge during the polyurethane era of 2008 and 2009.

The 19-year-old Sun,coached by Hacketts former mentor Dennis Cotterell,had already come close to Hacketts mark when he won at the Asian Games last November in Guangzhou,China in 14:35.43. Upon breaking the mark,an exhausted Sun celebrated mildly,then bowed to the cheering crowd.

I still think I have things to improve,especially my mental state, Sun said. After winning the gold medal,I think more and more people will pay more attention to me. Theres no doubt I will feel more pressure but Im still young and I dont want to be burdened by gigantic pressures. So next year,I will keep a relaxed mindset so I can handle future races.

American all-rounder Ryan Lochte set the first world record since the return to textile suits on Tuesday in the 200 individual medley. The two world records set in this eight-day meet were a sharp contrast from the 43 marks that dropped at the last worlds in Rome two years ago.

Standout performer

Lochte,the overall standout of the meet,also won the 400 IM on Sunday for his fifth gold,edging silver medalist and team mate Tyler Clary by a massive four seconds. Im glad this meets over. Its been a long,long eight days, Lochte said. Getting five gold medals is definitely great. The times I went,I know I can go faster.

Michael Phelps,meanwhile,finished with four golds after pushing the Americans in front during the butterfly leg in the 4215;100 medley relay. Nathan Adrian held off a late comeback attempt by Australias James Magnussen in the anchor leg. The Americans won in 3:32.06,Australia took silver in 3:32.26 and Germany got bronze in 3:32.60. Lochte wasnt included for the event.

In other events,33-year-old Therese Alshammar of Sweden won the womens 50m free and American Elizabeth Beisel took gold in the womens 400 IM. Another American,Jessica Hardy,reclaimed the 50 breaststroke title she lost two years ago during a doping ban and Liam Tancock gave Britain its second gold in as many nights in the 50 back.

The Americans performance on the final night moved them in front of China on the overall medals table including diving and other sports with 17 golds to Chinas 15.