Ryan Lochte defeated Michael Phelps by more than a second in the 200 metres individual medley at the United States national championships on Friday with the year's best time of 1:54.84.
"I've beaten him before, but this is my first time in a big national meet. It feels good," Lochte, who broke Phelps' record in the event a year ago in Rome, told reporters.
Phelps's 1:55.94 swim was the second fastest of the year, leaving Tyler Clary a distant third with a time of 1:59.19.
Phelps broke to the front of the field during the butterfly and held his lead through the backstroke, but Lochte rallied during the breaststroke and held nearly a half-second lead as he began the final leg.
"I've been racing Michael so many times, and the key is that breast to free turn, that's where he is so dominant," Lochte said.
"I knew going into it, that it was going to come down to that turn, and I just focused on that and I've been working on that in practice, and I just tried to stay under as long as I could," he added.
