FINA Live Blog :Swimming, Day 8 - Women's 50m freestyle: Kromowidjojo adds world triumph to Olympic gold

Double Olympic gold medallist Ranomi Kromowidjojo sprinted to the 50m freestyle world crown, beating Australian favourite Cate Campbell to bring the Netherlands their first title in the pool on the last day of the FINA World Championships. Kromowidjojo, who won the 50m and 100m freestyle at the 2012 London Olympics, sped away, holding the edge throughout, and touched first in 24.05. Campbell, who had won the Barcelona 100m freestyle title and was fastest in both heats and semi-finals of the 50m, picked up silver in 24.14. Francesca Halsall gave Britain their first medal in the Palau Sant Jordi pool, claiming the bronze in 24.30 a day after she finished fourth in the 50m butterfly.

Kromowidjojo, bronze medallist in the 100m freestyle and 50m butterfly in Barcelona, took silver in the 50m freestyle and bronze in the 100m freestyle at the 2011 Worlds. Jeanette Ottesen Gray (DEN), who had won the 50m butterfly 24 hours earlier, finished joint fifth with Campbell's younger sister Bronte. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), who regained the 100m butterfly world title in Barcelona and took the silver medal in the 100m freestyle, was fourth in 24.45, 0.15 seconds behind bronze medallist Halsall, who was world 100m freestyle silver medallist in 2009.

World Record: Britta Steffen (GER), 23.73 – August 2, 2009 in Rome (ITA)
Championships Record: Britta Steffen (GER), 23.73 – August 2, 2009 in Rome (ITA)
Best performance of the current season (since January 2013): Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED), 24.05 – August 4, in Barcelona (ESP)
2003-2011 winners in this event: 2003 – Inge de Bruijn (NED, 24.47); 2005 – Lisbeth Lenton (AUS, 24.59); 2007 – Lisbeth Lenton (AUS, 24.53); 2009 – Britta Steffen (GER, 23.73); 2011 – Therese Alshammar (SWE, 24.14)
The best in this event (1. most victories or 2. fastest time): Inge de Bruijn (NED, 2001 & 2003) and Lisbeth Lenton (AUS, 2005 & 2007)
2012 Olympic podium: 1. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED, 24.05), 2. Aliaksandra Herasimenia (BLR, 24.28), 3. Marleen Veldhuis (NED, 24.39)