Three world records created in Short-Course Swimming Worlds

Mireia Belmonte

Doha, Dec 4 (IANS) Three world marks were created on the first day of the Short-Course Swimming World Championships as the Netherlands established a new record in the women's 4X200 metre freestyle relay in seven minutes and 32.85 seconds. Spanish swimming star Mireia Belmonte won the women's 200m butterfly and 400m medley in outstanding WRs of one minute and 59.61 seconds and four minutes and 19.86 seconds, respectively. She defeated Hungary's Katinka Hosszu in both occasions, reports Xinhua.

Belmonte broke China's 2008 Olympic champion Liu Zige's world record in the 200m fly and became the first female swimmer ever under the two-minute mark in the event. Hosszu took silver in two minutes and 01.12 seconds, while the bronze went to German Franziska Hentke of Germany, who finished the race in two minutes and 03.89 seconds.

The previous world record holder Liu failed to qualify for the final.

In the women's 4X200m freestyle relay, the Netherlands clinched gold, while China took silver in a distant seven minutes and 37.02 seconds. Australia finished the competition with a timing of seven minutes and 38.59 seconds to finish third.

South African Olympic champion Chad Le Clos won the men's 200m free in one minute and 41.45 seconds, while Russia's Danila Izotov was second in one minute and 41.67 seconds. American star swimmer Ryan Lochte finished third with a timing of one minute and 42.09 seconds.

The men's 100m free relay title was claimed by France in three minutes and 03.78 seconds, while Russia and the United States came second and third respectively.