Phelps not invincible as FINA moves to level things

U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte, who won four gold medals in Rome and was later named as the U.S. Swimmer of the Year, ahead of Phelps, described the world championships as the craziest meet in which he had ever competed.

“This is not only the craziest meet, it is also the fastest meet that I have ever been to,” he said at the time. “It seems that every race is a world record and is really, really fast.”

Phelps agreed with his teammate, saying that there had been some amazing swims.

“The men's 200m freestyle and the women's 400m freestyle really stand out in my mind as being unbelievable records. Federica Pellegrini going under the four minutes for the 400m and Biedermann going 1:42 flat in the 200m is amazing,” Phelps said.

“Some records have been pretty unbelievable.”

But if anybody thought that the record flood would cease after Rome they were mistaken, as in the five World Cup meets that followed Rome another 37 short course world records were broken.

American Jessica Hardy and South African breaststroke sensation Cameron Van Der Burgh were crowned the Swimming World Cup champions after the final meet in Singapore and won the 100,000 U.S. dollars that went with it.

Some swimmers, like Phelps, used the World Cup as a scene-setter for next season by swimming in costumes that will be allowed under the new rules.

One thing is certain, the next season will bring a change to the sport and - with virtual certainty - an end to the flood of world records.

Lochte, for his part, is looking forward to the new season.

“All these crazy races will change come January first. I think we will then decide who are the real swimmers are out there,” he said.

“Hopefully, I am there.”

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