London 2012 Swimming: Tyler Clary wins 200m backstroke gold

Tyler Clary won the gold medal in the Olympic men's swimming 200m backstroke here Thursday, denying US team-mate Ryan Lochte a repeat victory.

Clary overhauled Lochte on the final lap to win in an Olympic record of 1min 53.41sec with Ryosuke Irie of Japan taking silver in 1:53.78.

Lochte, the world and Olympic champion who had led at every turn, settled for bronze in 1:53.94.

"The fact I am the Olympic champion and Olympic record holder is something that is very humbling," Clary said.

"It has also motivated me for the next four years.

"I stuck to my guns, kept my stroke on and was able to come by those last two on the last 15 metres and get my hand on the wall.

"That was the perfect race I swam tonight, there is nothing I could have done better, I am ecstatic."

Lochte was due back in the pool half an hour later taking on Michael Phelps in the 200m individual medley final.