Montreal, July 30:

Aaron Peirsol of the US broke his own world record in the 200-metre backstroke while Australia’s Leisel Jones set a new standard in the 200m breaststroke on Friday, both claiming their second gold medals at swimming’s World Championships. Pierson finished two seconds ahead of his closest pursuer and earned applause from runner-up Markus Rogan of Austria. The American led from the start, was comfortably ahead at the first turn and steadily extended his margin to finish in 1 min, 54.66 secs. It eclipsed his old mark of 1:54.74. After the final turn, Peirsol’s only competitor was the clock. He got to the wall with a mighty lunge, then spun around to see his time. When the world record flashed on the scoreboard, the usually laid-back Californian pumped his fist and splashed the water in delight. Peirsol won the 100 backstroke earlier this week. Rogan was next in 1:56.63, while Ryan Lochte of the US claimed the bronze in 1:57.00. Jones, who already won the 100m breaststroke, made it a sweep with a powerful swim in the 200m. She was nearly two seconds under world-record pace at the final turn and held on for a time of 2:21.72. That shattered the mark of 2:22.44 set at last year’s US Olympic trials by Amanda Beard, who sat out this year’s worlds. Seven world records have been broken in Montreal.