China's rising star Wang Jianjiahe claimed the host's second gold medal at the FINA Short-course Hangzhou Worlds here on Thursday, while two world record were renewed.
Wang, 16, who broke the women's 400m freestyle world record one month ago at Budapest Short-course World Cup, was the gold hopeful of the 800m free. She didn't disappointed the home crowd and led all the way to win the gold in 8:04.35. Italy's Simona Quadrella ranked second in 8:08.03 while Leah Smith of the United States was third in 8:08.75.
"I am happy to win the gold, but I am not satisfied with my time. It is not my best time," said Wang, who is 183cm high.
The United States broke the mixed 4X50m medley relay world record as they won the relay in 1:36.40. The Netherlands and Russia came second and third respectively.
Russia's Kirill Prigoda timed 2:00.16 in the men's 200m breast to break the world record and win the gold.
"The 200 is my signature event in short course and I don't know, either I prepared correctly and analyzed my mistakes, or I just closed my eyes and replicated how I needed to swim. But I am happy with everything and happy that I set a world record." Prigoda said.
China's Qin Haiyang rewrote the Asian record as he took the silver in 2:01.15. Germany's Marco Koch was third in 2:01.42.
"I didn't think about results before the swim, and I only thought it would be great if I have some improvements, so this is out of my expectations" Qin said. "Maybe I performed better with the start and turns, because the improvement of turns is helpful to results. The coach instructed me on details of the turns, and I prepared a lot for this competition."
China's Li Zhuhao also broke an Asian record as he finished 49.25 to take the bronze of the men's 100m fly. The gold was claimed by South Africa's Chad Le Clos in 48.50. Caeleb Dressel of the United States took second in 48.71.
The Dutch swimmers made an 1-2 finish of the women's 100m free. Ranomi Kromowidjojo touched in first in 51.14, while Femke Heemskerk trailed in 51.60. Mallory Comerford brought the United States a bronze with a time of 51.63.
American swimmers also took both the gold and silver in the women's 200m back. Lisa Bratton finished in 2:00.71, while Kathleen Baker was only 0.08 seconds off. Australian veteran Emily Seebohm was third in 2:01.37.
