Swimming World ChampionshipsA day would not be complete at the World Swimming Championships in Barcelona without another world record from Michael Phelps.

His fifth record came in the 400 metres individual medley which he won in a time of four minutes 9.09 seconds, to knock 1.64 seconds off his own record, and the only surprise was that it wasn't a bit more.

The American was even kept company by Laszlo Cseh over the second half of the race. The Hungarian, who at 17 is even younger than Phelps, finished a body length behind.

Phelps thus became the first swimmer to break five world records in one championship, his handful made up of one in the 100 metres butterfly, one in the 200 metres butterfly and two in the 200 metres individual medley, to go with last night's record.

The 18-year-old Phelps, who has been the sensation of this meeting, came away with three titles, the same tally as Australia's Ian Thorpe, who has now won 11 world titles in total.

We could equally say that a day has not been complete at this event without Britain winning a medal, so frequent have been the trips to the podium by British swimmers. Zoe Baker was the latest to join the list, the 26-year-old winning the bronze medal in the 50 metres breaststroke behind China's Luo Xuejuan.

Baker threatened to get even closer to the title, but as has happened with her before the challenge faltered in the last 10 metres.

Baker's bronze medal took the British medal count to eight (two golds, three silvers and three bronzes) to reinforce the fact that this was the best British performance ever at a world championships.

And there were a number of notable fourth places to go with the medals too. Steve Parry's Commonwealth record behind Phelps in the 200 metres butterfly on Wednesday was one; David Davies, personal best in the 1,500 metres freestyle last night was another, the 17-year-old at one point challenging for the bronze medal.

Grant Hackett won the 1,500 metres to take his world title count to six; three of which have been won here. Hackett was swimming to his own tempo, winning by almost 18 seconds.

As well as Phelps's record last night, there were new world records in the 50 metres backstroke, from Germany's Thomas Rupprath, and in the medley relay, by the United States, who were without Phelps. European champion Rupprath hurtled through the one-length race in 24.80 to beat the 24.99 world mark set by American Lenny Krayzelburg in Sydney in August 1999.

This has been a quite exceptional week of competition; the Olympics in Athens next year will have to go some way to match it.

Guardian Service