US swimmer claims third World Championships gold medal in 200m backstroke event
Ryan Lochte clinched the men’s 200m backstroke gold — his third at the swimming World Championships — yesterday in Barcelona. The 28-year-old clocked a time of one minute 53.79 seconds, with Radoslaw Kawecki of Poland taking silver with 1:54.24 and Olympic champ Tyler Clary, bronze in 1:54.64.
US’ Ryan Lochte competes in the final of the men’s 200-metre backstroke event at Palau Sant Jordi yesterday. Pic/AFP.
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Missy misses out
Elsewhere, Australia’s Cate Campbell won the women’s 100m freestyle gold yesterday as US star Missy Franklin missed out on claiming a fifth medal in Barcelona.
The 21-year-old Campbell earned her first major title when she clocked 52.34sec with Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom, the 100m butterfly world champion, at 0.55 back and Olympic champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo of Holland adrift at 1.08.
Having missed the event at the London Olympics after suffering from gastroenteritis during London 2012, Campbell burst into tears as she climbed out of the Palau Sant Jordi pool.
Ryan Lochte
“It didn’t really sink in until I got out and heard all the Aussies screaming,” said Campbell, who held a clear lead before fading in the last ten metres.u00a0“I think if the race had lasted 110 metres, I wouldn't have got it.”
Having already collected four golds in Barcelona, Franklin missed out as she finished fourth at 1.13 back, while Germany’s Britta Steffen, whose 2009 world record was under threat from Campbell until the dying stages, finished sixth. Franklin had no time to dwell on her defeat. Just 15 minutes after the freestyle final, the 18-year-old was back in the water as the fastest qualifier into today’s 100m backstroke final.
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