Sensational Phelps storms to 100m butterfly gold

From James Toney, Sportsbeat, in Rome

MICHAEL Phelps produced one of the performances of an already storied and fabled career to win 100m butterfly gold at the World Swimming Championships.

SENSATIONAL: Michael Phelps produced a storming final 50m to win the 100m butterfly at the Foro Italico (Getty Images)

Phelps beat Serbia's Milorad Cavic by one hundredth of a second at last year's Olympics - courtesy of his opponent's early reach for the wall and this race was rightly billed as the most-awaited grudge match at these championships.

This time the margin was a slightly healthier, 0.13 seconds, but the performance just as incredible and brought a near-capacity crowd at the Foro Italico leaping to their feet in mass appreciation.

Cavic had set a 51.01 sec world record in qualifying but Phelps lowered it to 49.82 secs - breaking yet another of his sport's landmark barriers.

"I didn't think I was going to be that emotional but you saw how much I wanted it," said Phelps, whose pumped-up celebration left no-one in doubt how much the victory meant.

"There was a lot leading up to that race. There was a lot said and that was all the emotion coming out. It all came out at once.

"I've been able to do the best times in the butterfly with not that much butterfly training which is great. I knew I had to be close enough on the first turn and I got him.

"A bunch of friends at home text me last night and this morning telling me this race was mine and that I had to go for it.

"I knew if I went out from the turn in 23.4 or 23.5 seconds I would be in for a chance."

It's fair to say that the outspoken Cavic and Phelps are not friends. Cavic angered the American with comments during last year's Olympics and Phelps hasn't forgotten.

"I know comments have been made in the past, and I welcome them. Comments motivate me and I let my swimming do my talking," he added.

"When there are things that are said, the only thing it does for me is fire me up. It does nothing but literally motivate me to no end, and I love it."

Phelps was not even in the top three at the turn, as Cavic started to open up clear water on his rivals.

With 30 metres to go Phelps was almost a full body length behind but he turned on the burners with each rotation of his giant two-metre arm span, lowering the world record he set at the recent US Championships, to clock 49.82 seconds.

Cavic took silver again while Spain's Rafael Munoz claimed bronze.

At first, the Serbian played down his previous row with Phelps but he then pointedly questioned his rivals celebrations. 

Phelps furiously tugged at his swimsuit, which unlike Cavic's is not made from 100-percent polyurethane, as he splashed about like a toddler in a paddling pool.

It was the best way to demonstrate in actions what remains the biggest talking point of these championships.

"When I turned and saw him coming I though to myself 'oh no'," said Cavic.

"But I was beaten by the best in the world and I'm OK with that and there's no tension.

"When he won he appeared like he wanted to make a statement and he certainly did that."

Brazil's Cesar Cielo Filho stunned world record holder Frederick Bousquet to win a freestyle sprint double with 50m gold.

Bousquet had set the world record during the French Championships in Montpellier earlier this year and was keen to talk up his chances on arrival in Rome.

But Cielo - whose emotional 100m freestyle win is one of the images of these championship - beat him by over a tenth of a second as he touched home in 21.08 secs.

"It was not as fast as I expected, but it's always good to prove I am the best in the world," said Cielo.

"To win both 50m and 100m freestyle is a great feeling.

"Everyone was a bit tired from the 100m event. Thanks to my hard training it went good for me.

"It is amazing after such hard work to be one of the best swimmers in the world here in Rome.

"I will focus to improve and reach perfection."

Timing is everything, especially when the difference between gold and fourth is measured in fractions - as Sweden's Therese Alshammar now knows to her cost.

Alshammar dominated the 50m butterfly qualifying, setting a 25.07 sec world record in last night's semi-finals.

But she didn't even get a medal as the final was won by Australia's Marieke Guehrer, with China's Zhou Yafei and Norway's Ingvild Snildal completing the podium.

Guehrer's time amazingly didn't break any records while Alshammar clocked 25.59 secs for fourth, more than half a second down on her performance last night.