Italy's swimming prodigy has to give up the world record

Ruta Meilutyte has been the sole world record holder in the 50 m breaststroke since Sunday. The dethroned Benedetta Pilato can console herself with a World Cup medal.

July 30, 2023

From: dpa/sn

Lithuania's swimming star clocked 29,16 seconds at the World Championships in Fukuoka. The 26-year-old was once again 14/100 faster than on Saturday. She had equaled the record set by 18-year-old Italian Benedetta Pilato in 2021. This time Pilato took bronze behind the American Lilly King, who was already 0,78 seconds behind Meilutyte.

Sarah Sjöström celebrated a favorite victory in the 50 m free crawl. In 23,62 seconds, the Swede stayed 1/100 of a second better than the world record she set on Saturday. With 12 individual world championship titles, she is now number three across genders. Only Katie Ledecky (16) and Michael Phelps (15) have won more individual titles in the history of Long Course World Championships. On Saturday, Sjöström won gold in the 50 m dolphin in Japan.

Australia is number 1

The final 400 m medley relays brought a conciliatory end for the USA. Both titles went to the Americans, who had not previously made it to the top podium in the relays. The men prevailed by a large margin (1,80 seconds) over China and Australia. The women also clearly won ahead of Australia and Canada. However, with seven gold medals, the USA was not at the top of the medal table for the first time since 2001 (Fukuoka). Australia was number one with 13 golds.