The Malta Independent on Sunday
World Swimming Championships
Yana Nestsiarava of Belarus competes in the women’s high-dive final at the 17th FINA Swimming World Championships in Batthyany Square, Budapest, yesterday
Caeleb Dressel has become the first swimmer to win three gold medals on a single night at the world championships.
America’s newest star turned in a stunning performance, racing three times over the course of about two hours – and winning every time.
He started with a victory in the 50-metre freestyle, came back about a half-hour later to nearly break Michael Phelps’ world record in the 100 butterfly and closed the night by leading off a world-record performance in the mixed 4x100 free relay.
That gave Dressel six gold medals in the championships, putting him in position to tie Phelps’ record of seven golds at the 2007 worlds in Melbourne, Australia.
Dressel will close the meet tonight on the 4x100 medley relay team.
Sjostrom wins 50 fly, sets word record in 50 free
Coming off a disappointing loss at the world championships, Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom bounced back with a gold medal and a world record.
Sjostrom won the 50-metre butterfly in the first event yesterday. She then returned about an hour later in the semifinals of the 50 freestyle to break the world record. Her time of 23.67 seconds eclipsed the mark of 23.73 set by Germany’s Britta Steffen in a rubber suit at the 2009 worlds in Rome.
Sjostrom won the 50 fly in 24.60. Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands captured the silver and Egypt’s Farida Osman grabbed the bronze.
On Friday, Sjostrom took a bitter loss in the 100 free. She went out too fast on the opening lap and was edged at the wall by Simone Manuel of the US Sjostrom had earlier set a world record in the 100 free on the leadoff leg of the 4x100 free relay.