Michael Phelps of the United States swims during the men's 200m individual medley final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube in Beijing, China, Aug. 15, 2008. Phelps set a new world record and won the gold medal in the event with 1 minute 54.23 seconds. [Xinhua/Fan Jun]

Michael Phelps of the United States broke the world record to win the men's 200m individual medley gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Games on Friday.

Phelps clocked in the winning time of 1:54.23 to better his own world record of 1:54.80 set up on July 4, 2008.

Laszlo Cseh of Hungary took the silver in 1:56.52 and American Ryan Lochte finished third in 1:56.53.

(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2008)