Swimming world championships: Tears of joy for Campbell

Australia’s Cate Campbell won the women’s 100m freestyle gold at the swimming world championships on Friday as US star Missy Franklin missed out on claiming a fifth medal in Barcelona.

Australia’s Cate Campbell won the women’s 100m freestyle gold at the swimming world championships on Friday as US star Missy Franklin missed out on claiming a fifth medal in Barcelona.

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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.

In lead
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.

“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. “I think if the race had lasted 110 metres, I wouldn’t have got it.”

After James Magnussen defended his men’s 100m freestyle world title on Thursday, Campbell’s victory underlines Australia’s prowess in the event.

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.

“Of all my events, the 100m freestyle is the one I have worked most on,” said Franklin. “I was fifth in the London final (at the 2012 Olympics) and fourth tonight, so I am getting there.”

Gold for Lochte
Ryan Lochte began one of the most grueling sessions of his swimming career with another world championship Friday. Lochte claimed his second gold medal with a victory in 200-meter backstroke, beating reigning Olympic champion and teammate Tyler Clary.

The winning time was 1 minute, 53.79 seconds. The silver went to Poland’s Radoslaw Kawecki, while Clary settled for bronze. Lochte pushed the early pace, leading at the first flip, and had enough to hold off his challengers.

Yuliya wins
Russia’s Yuliya Efimova overhauled Rikke Pedersen of Den-mark to win gold in the women’s 200 metres breaststroke, clocking two minutes 19.41 seconds.