Americans take all at Melbourne swimming...or almost all

On a golden night in the pool for the Americans, no one was better than Michael Phelps.

He became the first man in history to go under 1 minute, 44 seconds in the 200-meter freestyle at the world championships, breaking Ian Thorpe's revered world record on the home turf of the retired star.

"That was probably the single most incredible record in the books," American backstroker Aaron Peirsol said. "He put it to rest."

The crowd at Rod Laver Arena had barely caught its breath from Phelps' spectacular effort when five minutes later American Natalie Coughlin broke her own world mark in the 100 backstroke.