Cavic throws down WR heading into Phelps showdown

ROME — Aaron Peirsol knew he'd gone fast enough before he even touched the wall. He spun around with a big smile and gave the water a roundhouse punch.

Not a bad way to get over a huge disappointment.

Peirsol smashed his own world record in the 200-meter backstroke Friday, looking every bit like a swimmer who was taking out his frustrations with every whirl of the arms.

"I had a lot of waiting around to do during this meet, and to swim so well in that final makes me feel really good," Peirsol said.

He turned in an eye-catching performance even at a world championships where 35 records have fallen, breaking his own mark by more than a full second, his time of 1 minute, 51.92 seconds wiping out the mark of 1:53.08 he set at the U.S. nationals three weeks ago.

Japan's Ryosuke Irie also went under the old record (1:52.51) but wasn't even close to Peirsol.

"I wanted to race," the American said. "I pulled out from the beginning and I was feeling all right. When I kept pulling away, there was even more of a fire to go a little faster."

Peirsol didn't go fast enough on Monday — and shockingly missed the final of an event that he had won at the last three world championships and had just set a world record in less than a month ago.

Not realizing just how good the times would be, Peirsol was only ninth fastest in the semifinals, a stunning miscalculation that cost him a spot in the eight-man final.

Peirsol watched from the stands the following night and started looking ahead to his other chance for an individual medal in Rome.

"It was kind of a blessing in disguise," he said. "I just didn't know it at the time."

The laid-back Californian let out a big "Wooo!" after touching the wall. On the medal stand, Peirsol appeared to be struggling to hold back tears as the national anthem played, a rare show of emotion for a guy who looks as though nothing ever bothers him.

"The world record time in incredible," he said. "I have had that sort of time in my mind for a while, and have been waiting to do it for a long time."

While Peirsol celebrated, teammates Eric Shanteau and Rebecca Soni had to cope with bitter disappointments.