Fina World Championships
Date: 17 July-2 August (swimming from 26 July) Venue: Rome
Coverage:Live/highlights on BBC Two, Red Button and BBC Sport website

Highlights - Friis beats Brit girls in 800m

Jo Jackson won her second silver medal of the World Championships in the 800m freestyle, but Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington missed out in fourth place.

Denmark's Lotte Friis took gold, while Italy's Alessia Filippi just held off Adlington to claim bronze.

British duo Gemma Spofforth and Lizzie Simmonds failed to get into the medals in the final of the 200m backstroke.

But Britain's Liam Tancock set a new world record of 24.08 in the semi-finals of the 50m backstroke.

"I really wanted that world record back. I'm sure it won't last very long, but hey, who cares?" said Tancock.

This year has been so hard dealing with the pressure and expectation on me Rebecca Adlington

Great Britain just missed out on the medals in the women's 4x100m individual medley, finishing fourth in the final behind China, who set a world record of 3:52.19, Australia and Germany.

Liverpool's Fran Halsall, who claimed a surprise silver in Saturday's 100m freestyle, qualified for the final of the 50m freestyle, while David Davies made the final of the 1500m.

Jackson and world record holder Adlington were caught unawares by Friis, who had opened up a big lead by the halfway mark.

Replay - Tancock smashes world record

And although the British duo managed to close the gap over the final two lengths, Friis, who won silver in the 1500m, held on to win in eight minutes, 15.92 seconds.

Jackson, who earned a bronze medal behind champion Adlington at last year's Beijing Olympics, finished strongly to overhaul Filippi with a time of 8:16.66, but Adlington did not have enough in the tank and finished in 8:17.90.

"I have found this week so hard, and I am a bit disappointed I didn't improve on the time I did last year," said a tearful Adlington, who had to settle for two bronze medals - in the 400m freestyle and 200m freestyle relay - after her double gold exploits in Beijing.

"This year has been so hard dealing with the pressure and expectation on me. Going into this meet, I just kept comparing it to the Olympics.

"But I just need to get my head around the pressure a little bit. We have got a long year now before the Commonwealth Games (October 2010 in Delhi) and hopefully I can come back fighting.

"I know it is all about the journey but it is just very disappointing when it happens at the time."

606: DEBATE What did you think of the Great Britain team's performance?

Jackson added to her silver in the 400m free and bronze in the 200m freestyle relay to take Great Britain's medal tally in the pool to six in Rome.

"It was so tough out there," Jackson said. "All the girls just went out so hard and I found it so hard to keep up.

"Me and Rebecca have had a tough week. It has taken it out of us but we went out there and gave it our best and should be proud of how we did.

"I much prefer the 400m and 200m but the 800m helps me build my stamina for the 400m."

Spofforth, who won gold in the 100m backstroke earlier in the week, finished fourth in the 200m backstroke final, with Simmonds fifth.

"This is about experience," said Simmonds. "It was tough but I'm really pleased my swimming is moving forward."

Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe won the race with a world record of two minutes 04.81 seconds.

Russian Anastasia Zueva was second in 2:04.94 and American Elizabeth Beisel third in 2:06.39.

In the 50m freestyle, Brazil's Cesar Cielo Filho won gold as he added the title to his win in the 100m freestyle.

The Olympic champion sprinted to a time of 21.08 seconds as he beat world record holder Frederick Bousquet, who was second, and third-placed Amaury Leveaux.

"I was expecting faster times. I'm very happy and very satisfied," said Filho. "I think the 100 took something out of me but I haven't reached my peak yet."

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