Zhang Yufei (R) of China competes during the Women's 50m Butterfly Semifinal at the 16th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) 2022 in Melbourne, Australia, Dec. 13, 2022. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)
Australia and Italy shattered relay world records while China's Zhang Yufei cruised into women's 50m butterfly final at FINA World Swimming Championships (25m).
MELBOURNE, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Australia swimmers on Tuesday set a new world record in the women's 4x100m freestyle relay at 3:25.43 for the gold while Italy shattered the men's mark with 3:02.75 for the victory at the 16th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m).
The 16th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m), a six-day event featuring heats in the morning sessions and the semifinals and finals in the evening sessions, kicked off at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Center on Tuesday and will run until Dec. 18.
In the women's 4x100m freestyle relay, Emma Mckeon of Australia staged a last-baton comeback and stormed 49.96 seconds, sealing the final victory over their U.S. opponents who clocked 3:26.29 for a silver medal. Canada completed the podium by hitting 3:28.06.
The Italian men were also on top form as they outpaced Australia to set a new world record of 3:02.75 for the gold. The U.S. took bronze.
Day one of the short-course world championships also saw Australia's Lani Pallister claim the title of women's 400m freestyle on home turf, renewing her personal best to 3:55.04.
In women's 50m butterfly, China's Zhang Yufei stopped the clock at 24.79 seconds, booking a place in the final to be held Wednesday.
Zhang finished the semi-finals as runner-up in 24.79 seconds, only 0.01 seconds behind Canada's Margaret Macneil. Zhang also swam a personal best of 24.75 seconds in earlier heats.
"I am not dominant in the 50m butterfly, but winning the title is definitely my main goal and I will definitely try to win it," Zhang said.
Zhang added that she has set up "three small goals" which she will try to achieve step by step - to improve her competence, to break the Asian record and to become the gold medalist.
Zhang's younger teammate, 17-year-old Wang Yichun, was close to a berth in the finals but finished ninth with 0.01 seconds behind Sara Junevik of Sweden, the eighth finalist.
Gregorio Paltrinieri clinched another gold medal for Italy by winning the 1,500m freestyle in 14:16.88.
The United States dominated the women's 200m medley by having Kate Douglass and Alex Walsh as gold and silver medalists respectively, while the bronze went to triple Olympic gold medalist Kaylee McKeown from Australia.
South Africa's Matthew Sates earned the title of men's 200m medley. ■
