Hansen breaks world record in 200m breaststroke

LOS ANGELES, Aug 6 (Reuters) American Brendan Hansen broke his own world record in the men's 200 metres breaststroke at the US championships in Irvine, California.

It was the second world record in four days for Hansen, who shattered his own mark in the 100m breaststroke on Tuesday.

Hansen, an Olympic silver and bronze medalist in Athens, easily won the US title in the 200, storming home in two minutes, 8.74 seconds to smash his old record of 2:09.04 yesterday.

Eric Shanteau was a distant second in 2:11.38 followed by Olympian Scott Usher.

''The 200 is my baby,'' said Hansen on the US Swimming website.

''It's been my event ever since I was a little kid.

''I knew if I was really fast in the 100 that coming out here in the 200 I was going to be pretty quick.'' REUTERS AY PM1158