Phelps sets another world swim record

MELBOURNE, March 28 (UPI) -- American Michael Phelps beat his own world record in the 200-meter butterfly by 1.71 seconds Wednesday at the world swimming championships in Australia.

Phelps' record came one day after he set a world mark in the 200-meter freestyle. It was one of three world records set Wednesday and gave Phelps his third gold medal of the Melbourne championships. He's entered in eight events.

Phelps was well under world-record time halfway through the 200-meter butterfly and finished in 1 minute, 52.09 seconds. He was more than 3 seconds ahead of silver medalist Peng Wu of China.

France's Laure Manaudou eclipsed the 200-meter freestyle women's record by turning in a time of 1:55.52, which was 0.95 seconds faster than the mark set by Italian Federica Pellegrini less than 24 hours earlier.

U.S. swimmer Leila Vaziri lopped 0.03 seconds off the world mark for the 50-meter backstroke, finishing in 28.16 seconds in the event semifinals.

The world swimming championships continue through Sunday.