Markus Rogan can shed the tag of eternal runner-up.

The Austrian swimmer beat American rival Ryan Lochte in the 200 backstroke and set a world record in the process at the short-course swimming world championships in Manchester yesterday.

Rogan's previous best results at Olympics and world championships were seven silvers. When he realized he had won, Rogan slammed his fist into the water to celebrate.

"I didn't think I stood a chance," Rogan said.

Rogan timed 1 minute, 47.84 seconds. The previous record of 1:49.05 was set by Lochte in Shanghai two years ago. Lochte finished second this time, in 1:47.91 - also better than his old mark.

Immediately before Rogan's mark, Sanja Jovanovic of Croatia improved on her own world record in the women's 50 back, finishing in 26.37 seconds. Her old record was 26.50, set at the European short-course worlds in December.

Both Rogan and Jovanovic use Speedo's revolutionary LZR Racer swimsuit, which has rewritten the record books over the past two months.

There have been 19 long-course world marks set since the LZR was introduced in February. Fourteen additional world records have been established at these championships. All but one of the records have come with swimmers wearing the LZR.

Also yesterday, Nathan Adrian of the United States beat two-time world champion Filippo Magnini of Italy in the men's 100 free.

Adrian clocked 46.67 for a championship record. Magnini touched second in 46.70 and Duje Draganja of Croatia was third in 46.83.

On Saturday, Kirsty Coventry captured the world's oldest short-course record.

The Zimbabwean continued her glorious week by winning her fourth gold in the 200-meter IM, establishing her third world mark of the championships in 2:06.13. The previous mark of 2:07.79 had been held by Allison Wagner of the US since the first meet in December 1993.

(Agencies April 14, 2008)