Gold medallist US swimmer Missy Franklin (centre), silver medallist Australia’s Belinda Hocking and bronze medallist Canada’s Hilary Caldwell pose on the podium during the award ceremony of the final of the women’s 200 metre backstroke in the FINA World Championships at Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, yesterday.
Barcelona: American teenager Missy Franklin captured a record-equalling fifth gold medal at a single world championships when she won a second consecutive 200 metres backstroke title in Barcelona yesterday.
The 18-year-old clocked a time of two minutes 04.76 seconds, a championship record, with Australia’s Belinda Hocking taking silver in 2:06.66 and Hilary Caldwell of Canada bronze in 2:06.80.
Franklin already had golds this week in 100 backstroke, 200 freestyle and the 4x100 and 4x200 freestyle relays and she came fourth in Friday’s 100 freestyle.
Her fifth triumph means she has matched a feat previously achieved only by American Tracy Caulkins in 1978 and Australian Libby Trickett in 2007.
“It’s hard to comprehend but I’m so excited because 200 back is my favourite race so it was so fun to get out there,” Franklin told Spanish television.
Asked what her limit might be, she added: “I don’t know, I don’t think I can choose.
“I’m so flattered I had so many opportunities for all these races and it’s so exciting to be able to swim so many times here.
“It’s an honour and a privilege and I enjoy every single time I get in the water.”
Denmark’s Jeanette Ottesen Gray won the women’s 50 metres butterfly world title with Lu Ying of China second and Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands third.
Ottesen Gray clocked 25.24secs to claim gold with Lu setting a new Asian record at 0.18 back and Olympic champion Kromowidjojo adrift at 0.29.
Cesar Cielo of Brazil won a third consecutive gold in the men’s 50 metres freestyle. Cielo, the world record holder, clocked a time of 21.32 seconds, with Vladimir Morozov of Russia taking silver in 21.47 and George Bovell of Trinidad and Tobago bronze in 21.51.
Florent Manaudou of France, Olympic champion in London last year, finished fifth behind American Nathan Adrian.
South Africa’s Chad le Clos won the men’s 100m butterfly gold with Hungary’s Laszlo Cseh second and Poland’s Konrad Czerniak third.
The 21-year-old Le Clos, the Olympic and world 200m champion, clocked 51.06sec with Cseh at 0.39 back and Czerniak 0.40 adrift.
Katie Ledecky set a world record to win the women’s 800 metres freestyle gold medal and complete a treble of titles.
The 16-year-old, who smashed the 1,500 metres world best to win gold on Tuesday and also won the 400 metres, clocked a time of eight minutes 13.86 seconds.
She was inside the previous best of 8:14.10 set by Rebecca Adlington to win gold at the 2008 Olympics. AGENCIES
