With Phelps in stands, Lochte seizes spotlight

ROME — Ryan Lochte appreciated the cheers from the bare-chested guy soaking up some rays on the scorching side of the Foro Italico.

He would have preferred Michael Phelps in the next lane.

Lochte erased Phelps' world record in the 200-meter individual medley Thursday, but it felt a bit empty with the former record holder up in the stands.

"It feels good to do that," said Lochte, whose time of 1 minute, 54.10 seconds beat the mark Phelps set in Beijing (1:54.23).

But Lochte isn't looking for a handout after Phelps dropped the 200 and 400 IM from his program, leaving them to other talented swimmers.

"Ryan always showed up, to every major race, he really did," said Phelps' coach Bob Bowman, also in charge of the U.S. men's team in Rome. "To his credit, he never gave up. He has had faith that he could break those records and that he could beat Michael, and I'm sure one day in a head-to-head battle that's going to happen.

"They're great competitors and friends, and that's the way it should be."

Lochte stuck with Speedo's LZR Racer suit, even though polyurethane suits made by Arena and Jaked are generally considered faster. It didn't hurt him a bit.

"I love it. I love a challenge," Lochte said. "Everyone is complaining about all these new suits, blah, blah, blah, and I go out there and wear the same suit that's been out there and I just give it to them."

Lochte led all the way in a race that requires one lap with each of the four strokes, stretching out his margin to more than a second over perennial runner-up Laszlo Cseh of Hungary.

Another American, Eric Shanteau, made up a huge deficit during the breaststroke and rallied to finish third, his first major international medal. The performance was even more satisfying considering what he's been though.

Shanteau was diagnosed with testicular cancer just before he qualified for the U.S. Olympic team. He put off treatment until after he competed in Beijing, becoming one of the most inspiring stories at the games even though he failed to make the final of his lone event.

After the Olympics, Shanteau had surgery that rid his body of the cancer, and there's been no sign of a reoccurrence. He's now swimming faster than he ever has.

"I didn't get a world record, but I did get a best time, so I can't complain," Shanteau said. "It's my first world championship medal, so to go out there tonight and get that bronze, I'm very happy."

Cseh, who won three silver medals at the Olympics, now has a matching set of three silvers from the world championships. His lone gold was in the 400 IM at the 2005 worlds in Montreal.

"Maybe next time," Cseh said. "There are a hundred guys trying to be the best in the medley."

Phelps texted Lochte after the race. He congratulated him on a great swim and told him the 200 IM is one race where it might be possible to take times lower, even after FINA imposes it bans on high-tech bodysuits in 2010.

Lochte might have gone retro with his swimsuit, but that bling in his mouth was brand new. As he did in Melbourne after winning his first individual world championship, the laid-back Floridian wore his "grillz" to the medal stand to get his gold.

"Yeah, I got new grillz," he said. "They're just all silver diamonds on them, but this time the diamonds, they're a little bigger so they can shine a little bit more."