Baker sets backstroke record
IRVINE, US: Kathleen Baker set a world record of 58 seconds on Saturday to win the 100m backstroke at the US swimming Championships.
Baker, silver medallist in the event at the 2016 Rio Olympics, improved on the world record of 58.10 set by Canadian Kylie Masse at the World Championships in Budapest on July 25 of last year.
Baker, who tied for first with Regan Smith in the 200m backstroke this week, clocked a blistering 27.90sec over the first 50m and held on for the victory.
She notched the first world record of the championships, the selection meeting for next month’s Pan Pacific Championships in Tokyo. The two meets together are the qualifiers for the World Championships in South Korea next year.
The top three finishers all broke 59 seconds, with Olivia Smoliga second in 58.75 and Smith third in 58.83.
OLYMPIC CHAMP BILES VICTORIOUS ON RETURN
LOSANGELES:OLYMPIC gymnastics champion Simone Biles made a triumphant, if imperfect, return to competition on Saturday, winning the senior all-around crown at the US Classic in Columbus.
Biles, who tied an Olympic record with five medals, four of them gold, at the Rio Games, hadn’t competed since 2016 and she showed some signs of nerves with a fall and a few uncharacteristic wobbles.
Nevertheless, Biles took the senior all-around title with a total of 58.700 points. Riley Mccusker of Brielle, New Jersey, tallied 57.500 for second, with 2017 World all-around champion Morgan Hurd rounding out the top three at 56.350.
Biles won two of the four event titles: balance beam and floor exercise as she qualified for the US championships next month with the World Championships coming up in October.
WHYTE KEEPS WORLD TITLE DREAM ALIVE
LONDON: Briton Dillian Whyte’s once unlikely dream of a tilt at a world heavyweight title after a violent and troubled childhood moved a step closer on Saturday with a unanimous points win over New Zealand’s former world champion Joseph Parker.
Whyte, who has been defeated just once in his professional career , withstood a late rally from Parker to win with the judges scoring it 113-112, 115-110, 114-111.
The 30-year-old Jamaica-born Whyte, who was shot and stabbed in his youth, will hope to move on to a bout with either Joshua or American Deontay Wilder.