ROME, July 30, 2009 (AFP) - Ryan Lochte seized Michael Phelps's 200m medley world-record at the swimming World Championships Thursday, his superstar teammate urging him on all the way.

Lochte lifted the title that Phelps had held since 2003 in a time of 1 minute and 54.10 seconds.

That broke the record of 1:54.23 set by Phelps in winning Olympic gold in Beijing last August and gave Lochte the title over Hungary's Laszlo Cseh (1:55.24) and fellow American Eric Shanteau (1:55.36).

After lowering the world record seven times since 2003, winning three world titles and two Olympic gold medals, Phelps opted out of the 200m medley this year to focus on freestyle and butterfly events.

While Lochte came up on the losing end often enough against his illustrious teammate, he would have preferred to take the battle to him again.

"It feels good to do that," he said of the world record. "But at the same time I wish he was doing it.

"I love a challenge. And I love racing against him, because he is one of the best swimmers ever. Anytime I can race against him, I would be more than happy to."

Instead Phelps had the whole day off, something unheard of the days of his multiple medal pursuits at major championships.

He was in the stands with teammates and joined the celebration when Lochte won.

Lochte had threatened Phelps's record at the US championships earlier this month and he and Phelps remain the only swimmers to break 1:55 in the event.

And Lochte did it in a Speedo LZR Racer, the 2008-vintage swimsuit that launched this year's wave of polyurethane suits that are turning the record book upside down.

"Everyone is complaining about all these new suits, blah blah blah, and I go out there and wear the same suit that's been out there and I just give it to them," Lochte said.