July 8, 2009. Aaron Peirsol breaks the world record in the 100 backstroke, becoming the first man to break 52 seconds in the event (51.92). The record still stands today. The record was previously held by Aschwin Wildeboer of Spain set seven days earlier. (Photo courtesy: Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)
July 9, 2009. Michael Phelps breaks the elusive 100 fly world record going 50.22 to take down Ian Crocker’s 2005 WR of 50.40. (Photo courtesy: Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)
Michael Phelps celebrates 2009 100 butterfly record (Photo courtesy: Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)
July 7, 2009. Mark Gangloff celebrates a new American record in the 100 breaststroke championship final. His time of 59.01 took down Brendan Hansen’s previous mark of 59.13. (Photo courtesy: Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)
July 9, 2009. Rebecca Soni takes down Jessica Hardy’s American record in the 100 breaststroke going 1:05.34. Hardy’s previous record of 1:06.20 was set in 2005 and was a world record at the time. (Photo courtesy: Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)
July 9, 2009. Cesar Cielo of Brazil, swimming in the B final of the 50 free, set’s a US Open record of 21.14. (Photo courtesy: Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)
July 9, 2009. World record holder Fred Bousquet of France also broke the US Open record in placing second behind Cielo in the 50 free B final going 21.36. (Photo courtesy: Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)
July 11, 2009. In the championship final of the 50 free, Cullen Jones and Garrett Weber-Gale tied for second going 21.55. Two days later, the pair would race to determine the final US World Championships team spot in the event. Jones won the swim-off in an American record 21.41 to Weber-Gale’s 21.70. The previous American record was held by Garrett Weber-Gale (21.47). A year later, Jones would again tie for the second qualifying spot on the US World Championship team — this time with SwimMAC teammate Josh Schneider. The two would race several months later at the Charlotte UltraSwim with Jones again winning the swim-off. (Photo courtesy: Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)
July 11, 2009. Aaron Peirsol takes down Ryan Lochte’s 200 backstroke world record going 1:53.08. Lochte’s previous WR of 1:53.94 was set at the Beijing Olympics. Peirsol would go on to demolish his new record at World Championship’s going 1:51.92, an incredible two second drop from Lochte’s 2008 WR. (Photo courtesy: Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)
July 11, 2009. On the final night of the World Championship Trials, Dara Torres, Christine Magnuson and Anne-Marie Botek squared off in a 50 fly. The 42 year-old Torres prevailed in an American record time of 25.50, breaking her previous American mark of 25.72. Magnuson placed second in 25.93. (Photo courtesy: Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)
July 11, 2009. Almost. Rebecca Soni barely misses breaking her world record in the 200 breaststroke going 2:20.38 to her 2:20.22 WR. (Photo courtesy: Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)
Many thanks to SwimSwam contributor and swimming photo artist, Tim Binning of theswimpictures, for capturing these image and creating this photo vault.