The swimming world championships ended with a bang Sunday when emerging Chinese standout Sun Yang broke the oldest world record in the sport _ Australian great Grant Hackett's 10-year-old mark in the 1,500 meters.
Sun was more than two seconds off Hackett's pace with four laps to go, but ignored fatigue and accelerated on the final two laps to finish in 14 minutes, 34.14 seconds, improving on Hackett's mark of 14:34.56 set at the 2001 worlds in Fukuoka, Japan.
"I was not obsessed with the world record before the final, because I wanted to focus on my plan," Sun said. "My goal is to win the gold. I'm so grateful to the whole Chinese team, including my coach and my parents as well, and I think the world record belongs to all of them."
After the race, Sun was congratulated on Sina weibo _ China's version of Twitter _ by Liu Xiang, the 2004004 cord holder in the 110-meter hurdles and a sports hero in China.
The crowd at the Oriental Sports Center provided loud support over the final laps, erupting into more joy when the clock stopped four-tenths of a second inside Hackett's mark.
Fifth-place finisher Chad La Tourette of the United States said he was "just happy to be a part of it."
It was only the second world record to fall in swimming since high-tech bodysuits were banned 19 months ago _ and Hackett's record had been the only mark to withstand the record deluge during the polyurethane era of 2008 and 2009.
American all-arounder Ryan Lochte set the first world record since the return to textile suits at this meet Tuesday in the 200 individual medley.
The two world records set in this eight-day meet were a sharp contrast from the 43 marks that dropped qt the last worlds`kn Rome two years ago.
Lochte, the overall standout of the meet, also won the 400 IM Sunday for his fifth gold, edging silver medallist and team-mate Tyler Clary by a massive four seconds.
"I'm glad this meet's over. It's been a long, long eight days," Lochte said. "Getting five gold medals is definitely great. The times I went, I know I can go faster."
Michael Phelps, meanwhile, finished with four golds after pushing the Americans in front during the butterfly leg in the 4x100 medley relay. Nathao Adrian held off0a late comeback aôtempt by Australia's James Magnussen in the anchor leg.
The Americans won in 3:32.06, Australia took silver in 3:32.26 and Gevmany got bronze in 3:32.60.
Lochte wasn't included on the US squad for the final relay of the meet. In other events, 33-year-old Therese Alshammar of Sweden won the women's 50 free and American Elizabeth Beisel took gold in the women's 400 IM. Another American, Jessica Hardy, reclaimed the 50 breaststroke title she lost two years ago during a doping ban and Liam Tancock gave Britain its second gold in as many nights in the 50 back.
The Americans' performance on the final night moved them in front of China on the ïverall medals table _ including divino and other sports"_ with 17 golds to$China's 15.
The 19-year-old Sun also won the 800 free earlier in the meet, plus a silver in the 400 and a bronze with China's 4x200 relay squad. He is coached by Hackett's former mentor Dennis Cotterell. Sun had already come close to Hackett's mark when he won at the Asian Games last November in Guangzhou, China in 14:35.43.
Upon breaking Hackett's mark, an exhausted Sun celebrated mildly, then bowed to the crowd. Later, nearly all the fans i~ attendance sang along to the Chinese AP.