Phelps leads U.S. win, gets 5th gold medal

ROME, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Michael Phelps collected his fifth gold medal of the World Swim Championships in Italy Sunday, helping the U.S. team win the 400-meter medley relay.

Aaron Peirson, Eric Shanteau, Phelps and anchor David Walters covered the distance in a world record time of 3:28.27 on the final day of the competition in Rome.

It was one of 43 world records set during the championships, in which some competitors used controversial new high-tech swimsuits with polyurethane panels. The "speed" suits are to be banned from international competition next year.

Ryan Lochte of the U.S. team won the 400-meter individual medley for his second gold medal in Rome.

Other winners included Liam Tancock of Great Britain in the 50-meter backstroke, Russia's Yuliya Efimova in the women's 50-meter breaststroke, Germany's Britta Steffen in the women's 50-meter freestyle and Oussama Mellouli of Tunisia in the men's 1,500-meter freestyle.

Hungary won the women's 400-meter individual medley