MELBOURNE, March 29 (UPI) -- American Michael Phelps set his third world record in three days in winning the 200-meter individual medley at the world swimming championships in Australia.
Phelps again knocked a large amount of time off the world mark, beating his own world record by 0.86 seconds in collecting his fourth gold medal of the championships. He won Thursday's 200m IM in 1 minute, 54.98 seconds, 1.21 seconds ahead of runner-up American Ryan Lochte.
Phelps, who also set world marks in the 100m freestyle and 200m butterfly in the current meet, is shooting for eight gold medals in the world championships, which continue through Sunday.
American Leila Vaziri, competing in her first 50m backstroke, tied the world record she set earlier in the week in winning the event Thursday. She was again timed at 28.16 seconds.
The U.S. women's 4x200m freestyle relay team of Natalie Coughlin, Dana Vollmer, Lacey Nymeyer and Kathryn Hoff set a world record of 7:55.96 in winning that event.
The United States has 11 gold medals in the world championships, tied with Russia for most while China is third with nine. Australia is fourth with four gold medals.
