Cavic has a lot to say before facing Phelps in a final at worlds

ROME — Michael Phelps wouldn't take the bait. He will settle this one at the pool, in the race that really matters, wearing his same ol' suit at the world championships.

Milorad Cavic of Serbia can have the spotlight, at least until the final.

Still convinced he beat Phelps last year at the Beijing Olympics, Cavic took some verbal jabs at Phelps on Friday — then took away his world record in the semifinals of the 100-meter butterfly.

"They know I'm a player," Cavic said. "They know I've got a great deal of speed."

Phelps didn't seem too bothered about giving up his record. He knows the real race is today.

"I try to keep most comments to myself to fire me up on the inside," said Phelps, savoring his third gold medal at worlds after leading off for the United States in the 800 freestyle relay. "I've had success doing that in the past, and I'm not about to start making comments now. I'll let the swimming do my talking."

Cavic takes a different approach. If there is something on his mind, he will say it. He doesn't seem to care about offending people — even the man who won eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics.

After the morning prelims, Cavic said he is tired of hearing complaints from the Phelps camp about competing in an inferior suit, even offering to buy him one of the polyurethane models responsible for many of the world records this week at the Foro Italico.

In the evening semifinals, Cavic set a world record of 50.01 seconds in his speedy Arena X-Glide suit. Phelps was the second-fastest qualifier at 50.48; he held the previous world record of 50.22.

"I didn't want to go out so fast, but I had so much energy in my body that I couldn't help it," Cavic said. "I'm capable of swimming under 50, which would be enough to win the gold."

The two will be side by side today in the rematch of their thrilling race in China, won by Phelps by a hundredth of a second.

Cavic said he got to the wall first but wasn't credited with the victory at the Olympics because Phelps put more pressure on the touch pad.

As for Cavic's offer to get him a faster suit, Phelps said he is content in his year-old Speedo LZR Racer.

"I'm wearing this," Phelps said.

Notes

• The United States won the 800 free relay in a world-record 6:58.55, beating its previous mark, set last year in Beijing, by a hundredth of a second.

• Nathan Adrian of Bremerton qualified in seventh for today's 50 free final. Adrian's time was 21.46. Cullen Jones qualified in fifth with a U.S. record time of 21.40.

• Aaron Peirsol of the U.S. team smashed the world record in the 200 backstroke, earning the gold in 1:51.92 and surpassing his previous world record of 1:53.08 set at nationals last month.