BARCELONA -- It was a day like no male swimmer ever had. American Michael Phelps, 18, set world records in two events in less than an hour yesterday at the world swimming championships. None of swimming's greats -- not Mark Spitz, not Matt Biondi, not even Ian Thorpe, the sport's current star -- managed to break two individual records on the same day.

Phelps turned in his unprecedented swims in the 100-metre butterfly (51.47 seconds) and the 200 individual medley (1:56.04). Though Phelps is the first man to do it, Kornelia Ender of East Germany matched the feat in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly at the 1976 Olympics.

Through six days of the worlds, Phelps has lowered world records four times in three events. And a few more could go over the weekend.

Brittany Reimer of Surrey, B.C., continued to be the story of the Canadian team as the 15-year-old set her third Canadian record at these championships.

She qualified for today's final in the women's 800 freestyle and erased the longest-standing women's record with a time of 8:35.76.

The previous mark of 8:36.24 was set by Debby Wurzburger of London at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Elsewhere, the Canadian women's water polo team lost 9-7 to Russia in the bronze-medal match.