Biedermann wins 200m free as Phelps fails again

The eagerly-awaited clash between Michael Phelps and double world champion Paul Biedermann failed to materialise yesterday when the American missed out on a place in the 200m freestyle final.

Biedermann set his second short course world record in as many days, clinching victory with a new best time of 1:39.37 on a day when many more records fell.

Phelps, eight-times gold medal winner at the Beijing Olympics, finished with only the 12th fastest time in the preliminaries after opting not to wear one of the high-tech bodysuits that will be banned from next year.

"These were great races," Biedermann said.

"I am proud to be the first man to swim the 200m under 100 seconds. But I am disappointed that Phelps was not in top form. That would have been a good duel."

Wearing knee-length trunks, the bearded Phelps managed second place in the 200m individual medley, his best performance of the Berlin meeting.