BARCELONA, Spain, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- America's Ryan Lochte won his second gold medal in two days on Friday when he defended his world title in the 200 meter backstroke in Barcelona on Friday evening.

Lochte took gold in the 200 meter individual medley on Thursday and on Friday he led from the start to hold off a strong challenge from Poland's Radoslav Kawecki, while Tyler Clary finished third.

Lochte has now won 14 world championship gold medals, a feat only bettered by the great Michael Phelps, while his form in the past two days has laid to rest any thoughts that he may have been past his best after missing out on gold medal chances earlier in the week.

With this win he has now successfully defended his 2011 titles in the 200 meter backstroke and 200 meter medley.