FINA Live Blog : Swimming, Day 5 - Women’s 50m backstroke: China makes 1-2 with Zhao (gold) and Fu (silver)

World Record holder (27.06) since her winning performance at the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome (ITA), Jing Zhao (CHN) confirmed her credentials in Barcelona, getting the gold in 27.29 and winning the duel with her teammate Yuanhui Fu, silver medallist in 27.39. Fu was the best performer of the season, with a 27.22 effort established in April in Zhengzhou, but could not improve. It was however the first medal at Worlds for the 17-year-old Chinese swimmer. Zhao has now five awards in FINA’s major showcase.

The bronze went to Japan’s Aya Terakawa in 27.53 – she was better two years ago in Shanghai, where she got the silver in this event. The 28-year-old Japanese backstroker had left the 2012 arena in London with two bronze medals, in the 100m backstroke and 4x100m medley relay.  

World Record: Jing Zhao (CHN), 27.06 – July 30, 2009 in Rome (ITA)
Championships Record: Jing Zhao (CHN), 27.06 – July 30, 2009 in Rome (ITA)
Best performance of the current season (since January 2013): Yuanhui Fu (CHN), 27.22 – April, in Zhengzhou (CHN)
2003-2011 winners in this event: 2003 – Nina Zhivanevskaya (ESP, 28:48); 2005 – Giaan Rooney (AUS, 28.63); 2007 – Leila Vaziri (USA, 28.16); 2009 – Jing Zhao (CHN, 27.06); 2011 – Anastasia Zueva (RUS, 27.79)
The best in this event (1. most victories or 2. fastest time): Jing Zhao (CHN, 2009 & 2013)
Not in the Olympic programme


source : Barcelona 2013 - FINA Live Blog