Phelps sets world record in butterfly

ROME, July 29 (UPI) -- Michael Phelps bounced back from a rare defeat to win his first individual gold medal at the World Swimming Championships Wednesday in Rome.

The most decorated swimmer in history set a world record in his best event, the 200-meter butterfly, to capture the fourth gold in four days for the United States team.

American swimmers won four medals overall Wednesday, bringing their total to nine for the first four days of the competition. No other nation has won more than five.

Phelps had to settle for second place in the 200-meter freestyle Tuesday, losing to German Paul Biederman.

He cruised to a victory in the butterfly, however, turning in a time of 1:51.51 that broke his own world mark of 1:52.03 set at last year's Beijing Olympics. Pawel Korzeniowski of Poland took the silver, almost two full seconds behind Phelps.

The gold won by Phelps Wednesday was his 21st world championship medal, the most ever. He has won a career-best 14 Olympic golds, a total he hopes to increase in London during the 2012 Games.

Americans Allison Schmitt and Dana Volmer took the silver and bronze medals in the 200-meter freestyle behind Italian star Federica Pellegrini, who won her second event of this championship. Pellegrini established a world record of 1:52.98.

Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa won the 50-meter breaststroke, with American Mark Gangloff finishing third. The other gold medal awarded Wednesday went to Zhang Lin of China in the 800-meter freestyle.

It was the first gold for China, which became the 11th country to post a victory at this championship.

Other than the United States, the only nations with more than one gold medal are Italy (3) and Germany (2).