INDIANAPOLIS, Aug 2: Just for kicks, Michael Phelps nearly set a world record in an event he won’t be swimming at the Olympics. Phelps won the 200-metre backstroke with a scintillating performance on Wednesday night at the US National Championships, finishing more than two seconds ahead of a field that included world record holder Ryan Lochte.

Capturing the 33rd national title of his brilliant career, Phelps touched with a time of 1min, 54.65sec – the third-fastest ever.

Lochte’s mark of 1:54.32, set in March at the world championships, barely held up. Aaron Peirsol is the only other swimmer to go faster than Phelps in the 200 back at 1:54.44, the previous world record.

Clearly not in top form after starting off the night with a win in the gruelling 400 individual medley, Lochte struggled to a fourth-place finish in the 200 back at 1:59.11.—AP