Lochte gets his 1st gold at short-course worlds

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — It's one down and seven to go for Ryan Lochte.

The American opened his bid for eight gold medals at the short-course swimming world championships Wednesday with a dominant win in the 200-meter freestyle.

Lochte didn't celebrate after touching in a championship-record 1 minute, 41.08 seconds, nearly a full body-length ahead of Danila Izotov of Russia.

"I just wanted to do a good time. Usually the first race is my worst, so I'm glad to get that one out of the way," Lochte told the crowd over the arena's public address system after exiting the pool.

Izotov finished 0.62 seconds behind and Oussama Mellouli of Tunisia was third, 0.94 back. Paul Biedermann, the German who holds the world record of 1:39.37, placed fifth, 1.11 behind Lochte.

Lochte continues his bid to match Michael Phelps' eight victories at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 400 freestyle relay later Wednesday.

Phelps is skipping this meet.

Lochte, who has cut his well-known long locks, walked onto the pool deck wearing sparkling, bright green high-top sneakers. After removing his warmup clothes, he turned and stared down his rivals before stepping up onto the starting block.

He paced himself early in the race, touching only third after 50 meters. By the race's midpoint he was in the lead and when it was over he took a quick glance up at the scoreboard, calmly removed his goggles and cap, and shook hands with Mellouli in the next lane.

Lochte has made a strong case this year for replacing Phelps as the world's top all-around swimmer. He beat Phelps in the 200 IM and 200 back at the U.S. championships this summer, then won six golds to Phelps' five at the Pan Pacific Championships in August.

At the last short-course worlds in Manchester, England, two years ago, Lochte won four golds and two silvers. He is easily regarded as the world's top swimmer in the shorter pool — 25 meters versus 50 meters for long-course.

On Thursday, Lochte will swim the 400 individual medley and the 800 free relay.

Lochte, like every U.S. athlete here, is wearing the initials of Fran Crippen on his warmups in memory of the American open-water swimmer who died during a race in the United Arab Emirates two months ago.