American Michael Phelps defeated Pieter Van Den Hoogenband in their first duel in the pool since the 2004 Olympics and powered to a world-record 200-metre freestyle victory at the world championships Tuesday night.

Phelps led all the way in breaking Ian Thorpe's six-year-old mark in front of the retired star's home crowd.

Michael Phelps of the United States celebrates after winning the men's 200-metre freestyle final in Melbourne Tuesday.
(Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The American powered to the wall in 1 minute, 43.86 seconds.

Thorpe's mark was 1:44.06, set at the 2001 world meet in Fukuoka, Japan.

Phelps had barely climbed out of the pool before teammate Natalie Coughlin jumped in and lowered her own world mark in the 100 backstroke, getting the Americans off to a rousing start on the third night of swimming.

Not known for going to the early lead, Phelps opened under world-record pace in the first 50 metres, with the Flying Dutchman close behind.

Phelps pulled away from Van den Hoogenband, coming off the wall at 150 metres, moving out to a full body-length lead.

In one motion, Phelps hit the wall and turned around, signalling No. 1 with his left index finger.

Van den Hoogenband was again denied his first world title, taking the silver in 1:46.28. He finished second to Thorpe in 2001 and 2003. Park Tae-hwan of South Korea earned the bronze.

It was Phelps's record 12th world championship and 15th medal overall.

Thorpe, Van den Hoogenband and Phelps finished 1-2-3 in the 200 free at Athens, the so-called "race of the century" and the only time all three of the swimming greats faced each other.

The latest matchup was missing Thorpe, who retired in November at age 24.

American Aaron Peirsol also broke the world record for the men's 100-metre backstroke, taking the gold medal in 52.98 seconds and shaving 0.19 seconds from the previous record set at Indianapolis in 2005.