World Swimming Championships : Gross Overtakes Biondi to Win 200 Freestyle

Michael Gross of West Germany overhauled pacesetter Matt Biondi of the United States to win the 200-meter freestyle Sunday in the World Swimming Championships.

“I really died on the last lap, but Matt died more,” Gross said after winning in 1:47.97. “My tactic was to try to swim the third lap fast because I’m always strong on that section.”

Biondi also was overhauled by East German Sven Lodziewski, who took the silver in 1:49.12, with Biondi third in 1:49.43.

Britain’s Adrian Moorhouse beat Canada’s Victor Davis in the men’s 100-meter breaststroke but then was disqualified for an illegal turn.

The title was handed to Davis, who was the silver medalist at the previous championships four years ago.

Moorhouse waved to his delighted fans after clocking 1:02.01, which would have been a championship record.

Davis stared at his blocks in disbelief after his second defeat by Moorhouse within three weeks.

At the Commonwealth Games last month, Moorhouse upset Davis in the 200 meters, the Canadian’s favored distance.

But minutes later, the spectators sat in stunned silence as an announcer said the Briton had been disqualified and Davis, who clocked 1:02.71, declared the winner.

The announcement then was greeted by loud whistles, especially from the large contingent of British fans.

Moorhouse’s disqualification meant Dimitri Volkov collected an unexpected bronze, behind Italy’s Gianni Minervini, who was handed the silver.

Minervini clocked 1:03.00 and Volkov 1:03.30.

A dejected Moorhouse said he understood he was disqualified for a flutter kick on the turn.

“You don’t go out and do that intentionally. I did my normal race and I did it like that this morning (in the heats),” he said.

“I won the race by seven-tenths. I feel I am the world champion, but they are giving the medal to someone else,” Moorhouse added.

Earlier, East Germany’s Kristin Otto won the first race gold medal of the swimming competition, setting a championship record in the women’s 100-meter freestyle.

The 20-year-old freestyler was timed in 55.05 to beat American Jenna Johnson, the fastest qualifier, to the gold.

Johnson, 18, from Santa Rosa, Calif., was timed in 55.70, just outside her qualifying time.

Third was Dutch swimmer Conny Van Bentum, in 55.79.

Otto’s winning time beat the previous championship best mark of 55.34 set by countrywoman Birgit Meineke at the last finals in Guayaquil, Ecuador, four years ago.

But it was off the six-year-old world record of 54.79, set by another East German, Barbara Krause.

It completed a double victory for Otto, who won the 100-meter backstroke in the previous championships.

Romania’s Tamara Costache, one of the favorites to win the inaugural 50-meter event later in the competition, led at the turn but eventually finished fifth among the eight finalists.

Otto cruised into the lead midway down the second length and Johnson was unable to stay with her.

Annemarie Verstappen of the Netherlands, the reigning 200-meter freestyle champion and double bronze medalist at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, finished last.