By BETH HARRIS
James Guy of Britain defeated a loaded field to win the 200-meter freestyle at the world swimming championships Tuesday night.
The 19-year-old swimmer outsprinted China’s Sun Yang to the wall, touching first in 1 minute, 45.14 seconds.
Sun settled for silver in 1:45.20 and world record holder Paul Biedermann of Germany earned bronze in 1:45.38.
It was Guy’s first career gold medal at worlds. He earned silver in the 400 freestyle on Sunday.
American Ryan Lochte, the 2011 world champion, finished fourth. Chad Le Clos of South Africa was sixth.
Another Brit, Adam Peaty, followed Guy’s glory with a feat of his own.
Peaty set a world record in the 50 breaststroke, winning the first semifinal heat in 26.42 seconds. He bettered the mark of 26.62 set by Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa in the morning preliminaries.
It was the second men’s world record to fall at the worlds after four women’s marks were set in the first two days.
Peaty also swam 26.62 at the European Championships in Berlin last August but that mark was not approved by world governing body FINA because he wasn’t tested for the blood-booster EPO.
Van der Burgh won the second semifinal in 26.74, setting up Peaty and the South Africa for a head-to-head duel in Wednesday’s final of the non-Olympic event.
American Kevin Cordes qualified third-quickest in 26.76.
Peaty already has gold from these championships, winning the 100 breast on Monday.