Olympic swimming: Clary shocks Lochte for 200m backstroke gold

Olympics 2012 London: America`s Tyler Clary won gold in a new Olympic record in the men`s 200 meters backstroke here.Clary, the fastest qualifier for the final, clocked 1 minute, 53.41 seconds in a tight finish Thursday.

London: America`s Tyler Clary won gold in a new Olympic record in the men`s 200 meters backstroke here.

Clary, the fastest qualifier for the final, clocked 1 minute, 53.41 seconds in a tight finish Thursday. "I stuck to my guns and I was able to come by in those last few 15 metres and get my hand on the wall," Clary said. "That was the perfect race I swam tonight, it couldn`t have gone any better." Japanese champion Ryosuke Irie, who won gold in the 100m event, claimed the silver in 1:53.78, while Ryan Lochte of the US won bronze in 1:53.94. Lochte, the favourite for gold, had led for most of the race but tired in the final straight. ANI