 | Popov made it a hat-trick of world titles at the discipline |
Russian legend Alexander Popov saw off younger rivals Ian Thorpe and Pieter van den Hoogenband to take victory in the World Championships 100m freestyle. The popular 31-year-old's win was the highlight of an enthralling evening's swimming in Barcelona.
Michael Phelps, the 18-year-old American sensation, broke his own record in the 200m individual medley and Kosuke Kitajima took gold in the 200m breaststroke as another world mark was lowered.
And Ian Edmond clinched silver behind Kitajima to take Great Britain's medal haul to four. Popov was fastest off the blocks and narrowly led from Van den Hoogenband at 50m, as Thorpe lagged in last place.
The Russian, who turned under world record pace, was clearly tiring in the final metres but hung on for victory ahead of Van den Hoogenband and a fast-finishing Thorpe.
The crowd at the Palau Sant Jordi pool gave Popov a standing ovation after the Russian captured his third world title at the event after victories in 1994 and 1998.
It was busy evening for Thorpe who later qualified for the final of the 200m individual medley - his weakest event.
The Australian posted the fifth fastest time in the same semi-final as Phelps who sliced nearly half a second off his own world record as he cruised to victory.
| Kitajima secured his second gold and second world record |
The 18-year-old had already bettered his world record at the 200m butterfly semi-finals, which he took gold in on Wednesday. Kitajima also set his second world record of the Championships with victory in the 200m breaststroke following his stellar performances in the 100m equivalent.
The Japanese swimmer beat the record set in July by Russia's Dmitri Komornikov - who failed to medal and finished back in fifth.
In other action, Russian-born Nina Zhivanevskaya became the first Spanish woman in history to win a World Championship gold medal by taking the 50m backstroke title
Ilona Hlavackova of the Czech Republic took the silver medal in 28.50 and Japan's Noriko Inada took the bronze medal in 28.62.
And the United States just missed out on the world record as they took victory in the 4x200m women's freestyle event.
Australia finished well behind for silver, with China taking the bronze ahead of Great Britain in fourth.
MMIX
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