Phelps is going down ....

Biederman is a bit too modest. The host of the German broadcast was the former (hot) swimmer Franziska van Almsick. Biederman explained in the interview with her that he won because Phelps didn't seem to be in top shape. Van Almsick interrupted him, padded him on the back and told him to give himself some credit and that she thinks he would've beaten Phelps anyway. I personally would like to see a race between the two without the suits though.

I just watched the interview Biedermann did for Universal. I thought he was very humble and also showed great class and sportsmanship. Frankly, Phelps and Bowman could learn something from him. At the moment their behaviour comes off as bitter and grumpy. You didn't hear them complain when they had LZR and other teams did not. At least Phelps has the chance to get the world records back by using an arena or jaked suit in this meet. The swimmers who have been wiped from the records book like Thorpe have no such option and they are wiped forever.

Here's the race on Youtube: YouTube - Biedermann beats Phelps with record, from Universal Sports

I think it's honorable that he's standing by his sponsor, but I think he's conflicted over it and he's being a pretty bad sport. I don't even think he so much as looked at Biedermann after the race. I'm sure part of it is that he's grumpy over the suits and he likes to win, but come on, at least practice some basic sportsmanship. Word. No class. Biedermann swam in a legal suit, swam perhaps the race of his life, and gave Phelps a tune-up. Moral? Don't show up at WCs not ready to swim your best race (or even your best time) and then sulk when you get beaten. Here endeth the lesson.:bolt:

Why was the sister ready to burst out into tears? He already won 14 gold medals. He is the greatest swimmer to walk the earth. Did Janet Evans's family start crying when she starting losing? I highly doubt it. Just enjoy the free trip by your mother's sponsor and calm the heck down. Man, Bowman can be one angry dude!!!!

I'm sure part of it is that he's grumpy over the suits and he likes to win, but come on, at least practice some basic sportsmanship. I'm not sure I can blame Phelps. If Biedermann crushed Phelp's records mainly based on the high tech-suit it is understandable that Phelps is pissed off.

Phelps was only 0.26 seconds slower than he was in Beijing, so I'd say he's in top shape. I'm sure he would have been even a little faster today if it hadn't been clear that the race was over during the final 50. That's actually what Franzi van Almsick told Biedermann when she said that he would have won anyway.

Bowman, regarding the advantages of the tech suits. They'd better if they want Phelps around. His coach, Bob Bowman, said he might just withhold the sport's star attraction from any meets until the new rules are implemented. "We've lost all the history of the sport,'' Bowman said. "Does a 10-year-old boy in Baltimore want to break Paul Biedermann's record? Is that going to make him join swimming?'' What?! So, just because Phelps doesn't win, 10-year-old boys in Baltimore are choosing other sports over swimming? When I was a boy, growing up in Baltimore, I wanted to be like Michael Gross, the German butterflyer. Just because an American wasn't the star didn't discourage me from wanting to swim. Boys and girls of all ages need to learn how to win as well as lose. These are valuable lessons. I am definitely excited to see these world-class swimmers competing in jammers.

Biedermann was wearing an Arena when he broke the WR of Ian Thorpe of 1:41.10 with a time of 1:40.83 last November in a SCM World Cup meet. After the Olympics, he began working hard and showed improvement in just 4 months. He broke Ian Thorpe's WR from 2000 but it went completely unnoticed because we don't take SCM seriously here in the USA in Swimming. YouTube - World Record for Biedermann Now to take a look at the final of the 200 Free at the 2008 Olympics and check out the suit that Paul Biedermann is wearing. And of course check out the LZR that Phelps is wearing and it does not look like a level playing field to me. Paul Biedermann is not even wearing a full body suit and just legs and he goes 1:46.00 and the suit looks like an out of date adidas that there swimmers were forced to wear. After watching this clip, The Phelps I saw today looked nothing like he did in this clip. His final SDK was strong and amazing. Today, he seemed alot weaker and was struggling a bit. Phelps had an off Worlds in 2005 and he is having an off Worlds at 2009 so far. It is no big deal. Geesh, what a difference hard work will make in a year for Biedermann. :applaud:.

When Phelps comes in second tomorrow My own prediction is that he'll win the 200 but not the 100 fly. But before the 400 free, I didn't think Phelps would lose the 200 -- certainly not by over 1 second! -- so you are doing better than I as a prognoticator...