FINA Live Blog : Swimming, Day 2: World Record for Meilutyte (LTU)

Olympic champion Ruta Meilutyte claimed the first world record of the 15th FINA World Championships in a landmark swim for Lithuania in the women's 100m reaststroke. Meilutyte,16, clocked 1:04.35 in the semi-finals to better the 1:04.45 set by Jessica Hardy (USA) in Federal Way, Washington, on August 7, 2009. It was the first swimming world record in the 50m pool for her country since it gained its independence on the break-up of the former Soviet Union.

Four world titles were decided in the pool, with the victors coming from three continents, embracing Oceania, Europe and the Americas. Christian Sprenger provided Australia with the first gold of the evening, beating Olympic champion Cameron van der Burgh (RSA) into second place in the men's 100m breaststroke. Sprenger prevailed in 58.79 ahead of Van der Burgh (58.97) and Felipe Lima (BRA, 59.65) in an event won last time by Alexander Dale Oen (NOR), who sadly died in 2012.

Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom reclaimed the 100m butterfly title she had won in 2009, this time deposing defending champion and Olympic gold medallist Dana Vollmer (USA). Sjostrom, winner of the world title in 2009, won in 56.53, with Alicia Coutts (AUS), already a Barcelona silver medallist in the 4x100m freestyle relay, claiming her second successive world 100m butterfly silver (56.97). Vollmer took the bronze in 57.24.

Brazil's Cesar Cielo retained his 50m butterfly crown and claimed the fifth world title of his career. He won in 23.01 to add to the golds he scooped in the 50 and 100m freestyle in 2009 and 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly in 2011. Eugene Godsoe (USA) took the silver (23.05) and Fred Bousquet (FRA) bronze (23.11).

Katinka Hosszu put Hungary on the top step of the podium with an emphatic victory in the women's 200m individual medley. Hosszu, 400m individual medley champion in 2009, took charge from the start as Olympic gold medallist and defending champion Shiwen Ye (CHN) finished outside the medals in fourth place. Hosszu won in 2:07.92, with Olympic silver medallist Alicia Coutts (AUS) collecting her third silver medal in two days, clocking 2:09.39. Mireia Belmonte earned the cheers of Spain's home fans with the bronze.


source : Barcelona 2013 - FINA Live Blog