World Record: Michael Phelps (USA), 1:51.51 – July 29, 2009 in Rome (ITA)Championships Record: Michael Phelps (USA), 1:51.51 – July 29, 2009 in Rome (ITA)
Best performance of the current season (since January 2013): Chad le Clos (RSA), 1:54.32 – July 31, in Barcelona (ESP)
2003-2011 winners in this event: 2003 – Michael Phelps (USA, 1:54.35); 2005 – Pawel Korzeniowski (POL, 1:55.02); 2007 – Michael Phelps (USA, 1:52.09); 2009 – Michael Phelps (USA, 1:51.51); 2011 – Michael Phelps (USA, 1:53.34)
The best in this event (1. most victories or 2. fastest time): Michael Phelps (USA, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2009 & 2011)
2012 Olympic podium: 1. Chad le Clos (RSA, 1:52.96), 2. Michael Phelps (USA, 1:53.01), 3. Takeshi Matsuda (JPN, 1:53.21)

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QUOTES:
Gold medal winner: Chad Le Clos (RSA)
"I started the race a little bit nervous because my main goal was trying to win tonight. I just wanted to come to the World Championships and at least win one gold medal."
"Last year in London, I remember feeling really relaxed before my race. Today, I started feeling the butterflies. I just wanted to get out there and control the race, it was a lot different from last year's race."
"There's a funny story: in the last 100m, I was looking on the sides - I know it's a bad habit but I like to see what's on the field - then I saw the camera moving in lane eight to take the picture of the winner only to realise that I actually touched first."
"I took a 2-month break after the Olympics, then I had a lack of motivation due to an injury so after this, I wanted to make sure I was a 100% fit to train properly. I knew this year was going to be tough but 6 months later, I win a gold medal."
Silver medal winner: Pawel Korzeniowski (POL)
"I feel very good. I got the silver medal and I'm happy about that. I planned to swim the final next to Chad [Le Clos], close to him. He did a great final 50m and it helped me. I was actually thinking I could beat him and win the race."
Bronze medal winner: Peng Wu (CHN)
"This is my 6th and last World Championships, I have been competing for so long now. I am very satisfied with my final tonight, that was my goal to reach the final. I will retire after the China Games so I'm very happy to have won the bronze at these Championships."