Michael Phelps has four more chances to win gold at the world swimming championships.

He’s not likely to be satisfied until he gets another shot at Paul Biedermann.

In different suits, that is. The unheralded German glided across the water, steadily pulling away from the winningest Olympian ever, and handed Phelps a stunning loss in the 200-meter freestyle Tuesday in Rome—his first defeat in a major individual race since 2005.

No sooner had they climbed from the water, the debate was on.

Was it the man? Or was it the suit? Biedermann acknowledged that he

had an edge in his Arena X-Glide, a polyurethane suit that has surpassed the Speedo LZR Racer worn by Phelps. All those suits are on the way out, to be banned by the sport’s governing body starting in 2010. But for now, it’s perfectly legal.

Biedermann is the world champion. “The suits make a difference,” he said. “I hope there will be a time when I can beat Michael Phelps without these suits.”