Le Clos refreshes world record as Hosszu scoops up another gold at Windsor

South African star swimmer Chad Le Clos touched for gold in 48.08 in men's butterfly 100m at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) on Friday at Windsor, Canada, refreshing his own short course world record.

Le Clos established the second world record at Windsor 2016, improving on his own mark of 48.44 set two years ago in Doha, Qatar. He also managed to triumph for the third consecutive time in this event, after victories in 2014 and 2012.

The silver medal went to Tom Shields of the United States for the third time in a row at 49.04. The bronze went to Australian David Morgan at 49.31.

Hungarian star Katinka Hosszu, world record holder in the event and 2014 champion in Doha, won the final of the women's 200m backstroke in 2:00.79. She easily overcame her two main opponents: Ukraine's Daryna Zevina, silver medalist at 2:02.24, and Australia's Emily Seebohm, bronze at 2:02.65. It was Hosszu's fourth gold medal after her previous wins in the 100m back, 200m fly and 400m medley.

German star Marco Koch renewed a record at 2:01.21 in the men's 200m breaststroke and earned his second gold of the competition, better than Daniel Gyurta's time of 2:01.35 at Istanbul 2012. Koch left the minor medals to Andrew Willis of Britain with 2:02.71 and Mikhail Dorinov of Russia at 2:03.09. It is the first time for a German athlete to win this event in the history of the championships.

Gold in the women's 100m freestyle went to Australia's Brittany Elmslie at 51.81. Dutch Ranomi Kromowidjojo earned silver in 51.92. The Olympic winner in this distance Penny Oleksiak of Canada ended with a bronze in a time of 52.01.

In the absence of Mireia Belmonte of Spain, world record holder at 7:59.34 in the women's 800m freestyle, two American swimmers Leah Smith and Ashley Twichell ranked first and second with times of 8:10.17 and 8:11.95 respectively. Australia's Kiah Melverton was third with 8:16.51.

The mixed 4x50m medley relay was a fierce battle between the United States and Brazil. U.S. touched for gold and a new championship record with a time of 1:37.22. Brazilians got silver at 1:37.74, while Japan, initially in fourth, benefited from Italy's disqualification and nabbed bronze at 1:38.45.

source: Xinhua