James Magnussen and Ryan Lochte were back on top at the 15th FINA World Championships, while Rikke Moller Pedersen broke the women’s 200m breaststroke world record.
Pedersen, 24, who led her semifinal in the women’s 200m breaststroke from the start, finished in 2:19.11 seconds — 0.48 seconds faster than the old mark held by American Rebecca Soni.
World record-holder Ryan Lochte won the men’s 200m individual medley for his first gold medal in the Palau Sant Jordi pool on Thursday.
Lochte, the Olympic silver medallist, who collected his 13th worlds gold dating back to Montreal in 2005, suffered from fog in his swimming goggles in the final length, but still managed to touch the wall first.
“My goggles fogged up in the last 50 so I couldn’t really see the rest of the field, I was just hoping I was in first and could get to the wall,” said the 28-year-old.
Lochte took an extended break from swimming after winning five medals, including two golds, at the London Games and admitted he was pleased, given his lack of training this year.
Magnussen, who was viewed as a flop despite taking a silver at the London Olympics, rallied to win the 100 freestyle with a furious finishing kick, edging Americans Jimmy Feigen and the Olympic champion Nathan Adrian.
Magnussen, who lost out on Olympic gold by 0.01 seconds, came from fifth at the turn to win in 47.71.
Magnussen was asked if beating Adrian was especially sweet after what happened in London. ”No,” he said. “You know, if Adrian wasn’t such a nice guy, it might be. You just can’t hate him because he’s so nice. I was just doing it for myself tonight.”
China’s Liu Zige denied local favourite Mireia Belmonte gold in the women’s 200m butterfly. The 2008 Olympic champion won in 2:04.59, with Belmonte taking silver 0.19 behind. The bronze went to Hungarian Katinka Hosszu.
The results:
Men: 200m Individual Medley: 1. Ryan Lochte (USA) 1:54.98Ss, 2. Kosuke Hagino (Jpn) 1:56.29, 3. Thiago Pereira (Bra) 1:56.30. 100m freestyle: 1. James Magnussen (Aus) 47.71s, 2. Jimmy Feigen (USA) 47.82, 3. Nathan Adrian (USA) 47.84.
Women: 200 metres butterfly: 1. Liu Zige (Chn) 2:04.59s, 2. Mireia Belmote Garcia (Esp) 2:04.78, 3. Katinka Hosszu (Hun) 2:05.59. 50m backstroke: 1. Zhao Jing (Chn) 27.29s, 2. Fu Yuanhui (Chn) 27.39, 3. Aya Terakawa (Jpn) 27.53. 4x200m Freestyle: 1. USA (Katie Ledecky, Shannon Vreeland, Karlee Bispo, Missy Franklin) 7:45.14s, 2. Australia, 3. France.
