After the 4x100 freestyle relay, Ryan Lochte, facing forward, hugs Michael Phelps after their team placed second at the London Olympics. Photo by Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports
LONDON - Tyler Clary won the gold medal in the men's 200 backstroke Thursday, edging teammate Ryan Lochte and Japan's Ryosuke Irie.
Clary's time of 1:53.41 broke the Olympic record (1:53.94) that was set by Lochte four years ago.
Lochte would have less than 30 minutes to get ready for the 200 individual medley race against Michael Phelps.
Lochte won the 200 back at the Beijing Games and at the 2011 world championships. Clary was third at the 2011 worlds but qualified first for the finals. Lochte and Clary finished one-two at the Olympic trials.
Irie won bronze in the 100-meter backstroke on Monday.
USA TODAY