Originally published Wednesday, July 29, 2009 at 12:00 AM

Swimming | Suit debate intensifies after Michael Phelps suffers loss

Paul Biedermann of Germany dealt Michael Phelps a stunning loss in the 200-meter freestyle Tuesday at the world swimming championships ...

By The Associated Press

ROME — Paul Biedermann of Germany dealt Michael Phelps a stunning loss in the 200-meter freestyle Tuesday at the world swimming championships — the American's first setback in an individual race at worlds or the Olympics since 2005.

As they climbed from the water, the debate began.

Was it the man, or the suit?

Biedermann acknowledged he had an edge in his Arena X-Glide, an exceptionally buoyant polyurethane suit that has surpassed the Speedo LZR Racer worn by Phelps. All those suits are on the way out, to be banned by governing body FINA by May. But at this meet, the bodysuits are legal and Biedermann is the world champion.

"The suits make a difference," he said. "I hope there will be a time when I can beat Michael Phelps without these suits. I hope next year. I hope it's really soon."

Phelps, who has won a record 14 Olympic gold medals, sounded eager for a rematch.

"It's going to be fun next year," he said, "when swimming is back to swimming."

In the first three days of the meet, 15 world records fell.

"We've lost all the history of the sport," said Bob Bowman, Phelps' coach.

Biedermann, 22, won in a world-record 1 minute, 42.00 seconds. Phelps' time was 1:43.22.

Phelps, 24, passed on the chance to wear one of the latest-generation suits. He has been sponsored by Speedo since he was a teenager and wasn't about to abandon the company that paid him a $1 million bonus after he won eight gold medals at last year's Beijing Olympics.

Biedermann competed in the best suit he could find.

"It's not my problem," he said. "It's the problem of FINA. They should handle it really fast."

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