Swimming: Ryan Lochte wins two golds at world championships

Barcelona, Spain • On a night when Missy Franklin finally lost, Ryan Lochte turned in an epic performance at the pool.

Lochte swam three races in less than two hours at the world championships Friday, coming away with two gold medals and the top time in an event he's competing in for the first time at a major international meet.

Certainly, this grueling triple was worthy of a "Jeah!"

"It was so painful," said Lochte, who had the big crowd at the Palau Sant Jordi shouting his nonsensical catchphrase every time he dived into the water. "I don't want to do that again."

He won the 200-meter backstroke, posted the fastest time in the semifinals of the 100 butterfly, and put the Americans ahead to stay with a strong leg in the 800 freestyle relay.

Franklin also had a busy night, but the first race didn't go as she hoped. The 18-year-old American finished fourth in the 100 free behind gold medalist Cate Campbell of Australia, ending a run of four straight victories in Barcelona.

Franklin shook off the defeat, coming back about 25 minutes later to easily post the top qualifying time in the semifinals of the 200 back.