Australian swimmers set first record in Shenzhen

Australian swimmers set first record in Shenzhen

SHENZHEN - Australian swimmers set the first record at the 26th World University Games on Sunday as Japan overtook hosts China at the top of the medals table.

China captured a gold medal each in weightlifting and swimming to lift its total to five at the end of Day 2, while Japan has also won five golds so far but had three more medals in total.

Ji Jing made it three gold medals for China from the first three weightlifting events by winning the women's 53kg category, but Indonesia's Eko Yuli Irawan broke China's dominance when he upset local favorite Chen Meilong to take gold in the men's 62kg division.

"I'm so happy I've won. This is the first time I've won gold at a major international competition," said the 22-year-old Irawan.

"My next goal is to win the gold medal at the Olympics. I hope we can beat the Chinese athletes there," he added.

Ji Jing was impressive early, lifting 100kg in the snatch giving her an 8kg buffer on nearest rival Hsu Shuching from Chinese Taipei.

With the pressure on the other competitors, Ji pressed her advantage by confidently making her first clean and jerk lift of 115kg. Hsu fought hard and was successful at all of her clean and jerk lifts 110kg, 113kg and 115kg.

However, these efforts paled in comparison to Ji, who went on to make her next lift with 122kg. She then made an unsuccessful attempt at her final lift of 127kg, only 2kg shy of the world record.

Ji finished with a combined total of 222kg, 15kg clear of Hsu. "This is my current best result in competition, I will next focus on next year's Olympic Games," said Ji.

In the pool, the Australian quartet of Cate Campbell, Alice Mills, Jessica Morrison and Marieke Guehrer won the women's 4x100m freestyle relay in 3 minutes 40.03 seconds, eclipsing the previous mark of 3:40.85 set by the United States at the 2007 Universiade in Bangkok.

China's Lu Ying cruised to gold in the women's 50m butterfly in 25.98 seconds, just one hunderdth of a second shy of the Universiade record.

"I am quite satisfied with my performance tonight, but when I got to the finish, my hand slipped on the touch pad. Without this mistake, I think I would get a better result," said Lu, the 100m butterfly bronze medalist in last month's world championships in Shanghai.

The Netherlands celebrated double gold in women's judo on Sunday. Esther Stam won the 63kg event and Kim Polling clinched the 70kg title at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center.

Japan and Russia split the two other gold medals at stake in judo.

The first day of tennis competition turned out to a lopsided affair as 12 matches ended in 6-0, 6-0 scorlines.

China's Xu Junchao needed only 34 minutes to dismiss Lebanon's Rami ALAYLI 6-0, 6-0 in the opening match on Center Court, while Germany's Carmen Klaschka claimed the fastest victory of the day, beating Faith Cecilia Mulenga of Zambia to love in just 25 minutes.

A total of 20 gold medals are up for grab on Monday and the Shenzhen Universiade runs through August 23.

(Xinhua)

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Phelps goes for 1st individual gold at worlds

Phelps goes for 1st individual gold at worlds

Michael Phelps of the US smiles after competing in the men's 200m freestyle semifinal at the 14th FINA World Championships in Shanghai July 25, 2011.

SHANGHAI - Michael Phelps is going after Germany's Paul Biedermann, and this time he's got help.

Having been handed "a pretty good beatdown" by Biedermann in the 200-meter freestyle two years ago in Rome, Phelps gets a long-awaited chance at revenge in the world championships Tuesday.

Biedermann trounced Phelps and took away his world record in Rome, where everyone was wearing the high-tech bodysuits that are now banned.

Phelps and Biedermann won't be going one-on-one, though. They'll be joined by what Phelps described as "a studly field" in the night final at the Oriental Sports Center.

Yannick Agnel of France was the fastest qualifier in the semifinals, with Biedermann second, American Ryan Lochte third, Park Tae-hwan of South Korea fourth and Phelps fifth.

"It's going to be down to the last 50 (meters)," Phelps said. "There are some guys that have front-half speed and some guys that close extremely well. You can probably guarantee that it's going to be a tight group."

Lochte didn't swim the 200 freestyle in Rome, but he figures to be a major presence this time. "It's going to be definitely a dogfight," he said, noting that he and Phelps will swim next to each other.

"I'm going to kind of move over to the lane line and draft off him. Hopefully we can put something together and pull out a 1-2 race."

Biedermann predicted the final will be "big pressure."

After the semis, Phelps said he remained upbeat about his chances. "As long as I have a lane, that's all I need," said Phelps, who will swim in lane two. "I have my strategy that I want to do tomorrow. I tried to conserve as much as I could."

Michael Phelps of the US competes in the men's 200m freestyle semifinal at the 14th FINA World Championships in Shanghai July 25, 2011.

Michael Phelps (top) of the US and China's Wu Peng compete in the men's 200m butterfly heats at the 14th FINA World Championships in Shanghai July 26, 2011.

(Agencies)

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Cielo seals title 4 days after doping ruling

Cielo seals title 4 days after doping ruling

Brazil's Cesar Cielo Filho cries after winning the men's 50m butterfly final at the 14th FINA World Championships in Shanghai, July 25, 2011.

SHANGHAI - Cesar Cielo said a day ago that his doping ordeal was behind him. On Monday, the emotions of the past month came back in full force when the Brazilian won the 50-meter butterfly at the world championships.

Cielo propped himself up on a lane rope, looked up at the scoreboard and began sobbing.

Last week, Cielo was cleared of wrongdoing by the Court of Arbitration for Sport following an emergency hearing in China.

"It's been a tough time for me, something that I didn't expect at all for my career," Cielo said. "But I had to deal with it and it feels like the biggest relief of my life to overcome something like that and be able to compete."

Cielo, who will also attempt to defend his 50 and 100 freestyle titles later this week, finished his race in 23.10 seconds. Matthew Targett took the silver in 23.28 and Australian teammate Geoff Huegill, who has come out of a four-year retirement, took the bronze in 23.35.

Cielo and three teammates tested positive for furosemide, a banned diuretic, at a meet in Rio de Janeiro in May. After the Brazilian swimming federation gave Cielo a warning, swimming governing body FINA appealed the decision to the CAS, which upheld the Brazilian ruling.

Cielo said he consumed the drug in a contaminated batch of a food supplement he regularly uses.

The ruling prompted an outcry from other swimmers, who called it unfair, and there were some whistles in the crowd after his victory.

"This gold medal has a different feeling from the other ones," Cielo said. "This was the hardest I've had in my life. It was a time to test not just my talent in swimming but how much I could take and still stand up so I'm really proud of myself for being able to do so.

Cesar Cielo of Brazil cries during a ceremony with Australia's bronze medalist Geoff Huegill and silver medalist Matthew Targett after winning the men's 50m butterfly final at the 14th FINA World Championships in Shanghai, July 25, 2011.

Cielo cried again during the medal ceremony, and the capacity crowd at the Oriental Sports Center responded by applauding in encouragement.

"It's difficult for him," Targett said. "I'm not going to speak for my friend, but I lived with the guy and I know exactly what he's going through. At times like this, you find out who your real friends are."

Targett called Kenyan racer Jason Dunford, who finished seventh, a "sore loser" for allegedly putting his thumbs down after the race. "I'm really happy for him," Targett continued. "And if I was ever to get beaten by anybody I would want it to be a friend."

Australia's Geoff Huegill, Brazil's Cesar Cielo Filho and France's Florent Manaudou (L-R) compete in the men's 50m butterfly final at the 14th FINA World Championships in Shanghai, July 25, 2011.

Cesar Cielo of Brazil cries after winning the men's 50m butterfly final at the 14th FINA World Championships in Shanghai, July 25, 2011.

Brazil's Cesar Cielo Filho reacts after winning the men's 50m butterfly final at the 14th FINA World Championships in Shanghai, July 25, 2011.

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Phelps sweeps Indy GP for five golds

Phelps sweeps Indy GP for five golds

Michael Phelps is pictured at USA Indianapolis Swimming Grand Prix, March 6, 2011.


INDIANAPOLIS - Michael Phelps notched two more victories, incuding a 200-meter individual medley triumph over Ryan Lochte, to take his total to five at USA Swimming's Indianapolis Grand Prix.

The 14-time Olympic gold medalist who saw Lochte dominate men's swimming last year, on Saturday showed he is back on track for July's World Championsihps in Shanghai and the 2012 London Olympics, but said he has plenty of work to do.

Phelps won the 200-meter individual medley in 1:56.88, and the 100-meter freestyle in 48.89 at the Indiana University Natatorium.

"In my eyes, it just feels good to be able to race and race at a good speed," said Phelps, who didn't win either event in his only other meet this year two months ago in Austin, Texas.

The most highly anticipated race in Indianapolis was the 200 individual medley, pitting Phelps, the two-time defending Olympic gold medalist in the event, against his chief rival, world-record holder Ryan Lochte.

Phelps led Lochte by more than eight-tenths of a second at the midway point, extended the margin to nearly one seconds at the third turn and wound up beating the fatigued Lochte by more than two full seconds.

Phelps' time also supplanted Lochte's previous best as the fastest time in the world this season.

Lochte, who finished in 1:59.19, had beaten Phelps in the event at the Austin Grand Prix in January.

"He's back, there's no doubt about it," said Lochte, who was the world's most dominant swimmer in 2010. "I don't think he's ever not there, no matter what he says. I feel like he can step up and race any time."

Ryan Lochte is pictured at USA Indianapolis Swimming Grand Prix, March 6, 2011.

In the 100 freestyle, Phelps came back from third place with a strong finish to win the gold and set another world-best time this year. Matthew Grevers finished second in 50.01 and Olympic gold medalist Jason Lezak was third in 50.08.

"The last 50 just felt incredible," Phelps said. "I felt like I really was able to build a lot of momentum coming off the wall. You know, I'm never really satisfied, but I am happy to put up the five fastest times in the world here."

Phelps also won the 200 butterfly on Friday night and the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly on Thursday.

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FINA Swimming World Cup 2010 held in Beijing

FINA Swimming World Cup 2010 held in Beijing

Julia Elizabeth Smit of the United States competes during the women's 200m backstroke final at FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup 2010 short course competition in National Aquatics Center 'Water Cube' in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 12, 2010. Smit won the gold of the event with 2 minutes and 6.29 seconds.

Gao Chang of China reacts after the women's 50m breaststroke final at FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup 2010 short course competition in National Aquatics Center 'Water Cube' in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 12, 2010. Gao won the gold of the event with 26.00 seconds.

Zhang Zhongchao of China competes during the men's 400m freestyle final at FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup 2010 short course competition in National Aquatics Center 'Water Cube' in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 12, 2010. Zhang won the gold of the event with 3 minutes and 46.00 seconds.

The gold medalist Gao Chang (R) of China is congratulated by the silver medalist Hinkelien Schreuder of the Netherlands during the awarding ceremony of women's 50m breaststroke final at FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup 2010 short course competition in National Aquatics Center 'Water Cube' in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 12, 2010. Gao won the gold of the event with 26.00 seconds.

Ye Shiwen of China competes during the women's 200m individual medley final at FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup 2010 short course competition in National Aquatics Center 'Water Cube' in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 12, 2010. Ye won the gold of the event with 2 minutes and 8.87 seconds.

Therese Alshammar of Sweden competes during the women's 100m butterfly final at FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup 2010 short course competition in National Aquetics Center "Water Cube" in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 12, 2010. Alshammar won the gold of the event with 56.80 seconds.
(Xinhua)

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Peirsol wins gold in 100m backstroke at Pan Pacific

Peirsol wins gold in 100m backstroke at Pan Pacific

Aaron Peirsol (L) of the U.S. celebrates with Hayden Stoeckel of Australia after Peirsol won the men's 100m backstroke at the Pan Pacific 2010 swimming championships in Irvine, California August 18, 2010.

Aaron Peirsol of the U.S. comes off the starting blocks during the start of the men's 100m backstroke at the Pan Pacific 2010 swimming championships in Irvine, California, August 18, 2010.
(Reuters)

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Phelps powers to victory at Pan Pacific

Phelps powers to victory at Pan Pacific

Michael Phelps of the U.S. reacts after winning the men's 200m butterfly final at the Pan Pacific 2010 swimming championships in Irvine, California, August 18, 2010.
(Reuters)

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Kate Ziegler defends 800 free title at Pan Pacific

Kate Ziegler defends 800 free title at Pan Pacific

Kate Ziegler of the U.S. swims to a win in the women's 800m freestyle final at the Pan Pacific 2010 swimming championships in Irvine, California, August 18, 2010.

Kate Ziegler of the U.S. waves tot he crowd after winning the women's 800m freestyle final at the Pan Pacific 2010 swimming championships in Irvine, California, August 18, 2010.
(Reuters)

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Winners at Euro swimming championships

Winners at Euro swimming championships

The team of France show their medals after the men's 4x100m medley relay final of the 30th European Swimming Championships in Budapest, capital of Hungary, Aug. 15, 2010. French team won the gold and set a new championship record with a time of 3 minutes and 31.32 seconds.

The team of France celebrate after the men's 4x100m medley relay final of the 30th European Swimming Championships in Budapest, capital of Hungary, Aug. 15, 2010. French team won the gold and set a new championship record with a time of 3 minutes and 31.32 seconds.

The team of Britain pose with their medals after the women's 4x100m medley relay final of the 30th European Swimming Championships in Budapest, capital of Hungary, Aug. 15, 2010. British team won the gold with a time of 3:59.72.

Rebecca Adlington of Britain poses with her medal after the women's 400m freestyle final of the 30th European Swimming Championships in Budapest, capital of Hungary, Aug. 15, 2010. Adlington won the gold with a time of 4:04.55.

Laszlo Cseh of Hungary poses with his medal after the men's 400m individual medley final of the 30th European Swimming Championships in Budapest, capital of Hungary, Aug. 15, 2010. Cseh won the gold with a time of 4:10.95.

Frederick Bousquet of France poses with his medal after the men's 50m freestyle final of the 30th European Swimming Championships in Budapest, capital of Hungary, Aug. 15, 2010. Bousquet won the gold with a time of 21.49 seconds.

Rebecca Adlington of Britain competes during the women's 400m freestyle final of the 30th European Swimming Championships in Budapest, capital of Hungary, Aug. 15, 2010. Adlington won the gold with a time of 4:04.55.

Laszlo Cseh of Hungary competes during the men's 400m individual medley final of the 30th European Swimming Championships in Budapest, capital of Hungary, Aug. 15, 2010. Cseh won the gold with a time of 4:10.95.

Yuliya Efimova of Russia poses with her medal after the women's 50m breaststroke final of the 30th European Swimming Championships in Budapest, capital of Hungary, Aug. 15, 2010. Efimova won the gold with a time of 30.29 seconds.

Frederick Bousquet of France celebrates after the men's 50m freestyle final of the 30th European Swimming Championships in Budapest, capital of Hungary, Aug. 15, 2010. Bousquet won the gold with a time of 21.49 seconds.
(Xinhua)

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Russia complete synchronized swimming gold haul at Euro Swim

Russia complete synchronized swimming gold haul at Euro Swim

Members of Russia's team perform in the women's synchronized swimming free combination final at the European Swimming Championships in Budapest August 8, 2010.

BUDAPEST, Aug. 8 -- Russia won both synchronized swimming gold medals in Sunday's finals on day five of the European Swimming Championships in Budapest.

The Russians, who also claimed double gold medals in Saturday's team and solo competitions, won the free combination event, scoring 98.300 points ahead of Spain on 97.000 and Ukraine on 94.100.

Earlier in the day, Natalia Ischenko, who won individual and team gold for Russia on Saturday, picked up her third gold of the championships in the pairs with partner Svetlana Romashina.

The Russian pair scored an impeccable 98.700 points, beating the Spanish title holders Ona Carbonell and Andrea Fuentes into second place on 96.700 points and Daria Iushko and Kseniya Sydorenko of Ukraine won bronze with 93.400 points.

In Balatonfured, 120kms southwest of Budapest, on the last day of the open water events, Ukraine's Olga Beresnyeva won the women's 25km event just ahead of Germany's Angela Maurer.

After almost six hours in the water, the two swimmers remarkably finished neck and neck, with Beresnyeva pipping the German for gold by a tenth of a second and claiming Ukraine's first ever medal in an open water event.

The Ukrainian's winning time was 5 hours 48 minutes and 10.2 seconds. Just twenty seconds behind was Italy's Martina Grimaldi who won the bronze with a time of 5 hours 48 minutes and 30.8 seconds, a fraction of a second ahead of Spain's Margarita Dominguez in fourth.

The pool and diving events begin next Monday in Budapest, when four gold medals will be on offer.

Members of Russia's team pose with their gold medals in the women's synchronized swimming free combination final at the European Swimming Championships in Budapest August 8, 2010.

Members of Russia's team perform in the women's synchronized swimming free combination final at the European Swimming Championships in Budapest August 8, 2010.
(Reuters)

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Phelps gears up for U.S. Nationals

Phelps gears up for U.S. Nationals

Michael Phelps adjusts his headphones before competing in heat 14 of the Men's 100m Butterfly event at the U.S. National Swimming Championships in Irvine, California August 5, 2010.

Michael Phelps looks around before competing in the heats of the Men's 100m Butterfly event at the U.S. National Swimming Championships in Irvine, California August 5, 2010.

Swimmer Michael Phelps dives off the start blocks while on his way to winning the men's 200m freestyle event at the U.S. National Swimming Championships in Irvine, California, August 4, 2010.

Swimmer Michael Phelps dives off the start blocks while on his way to winning the men's 200m freestyle event at the U.S. National Swimming Championships in Irvine, California, August 4, 2010.

Ryan Lochte (R) and Michael Phelps look at the timing board after heat 17 of the men's 200 meters freestyle event at the U.S. National Swimming Championships in Irvine, California August 4, 2010. Lochte won the heat ahead of 14-times Olympic champion Phelps.

Michael Phelps competes in heat 17 of the men's 200 meters freestyle event at the U.S. National Swimming Championships in Irvine, California August 4, 2010. The 14-times Olympic champion finished second in the heat.

Michael Phelps competes during heat 11 of the men's 200 meters butterfly event at the U.S. National Swimming Championships in Irvine, California August 4, 2010. The 14-times Olympic champion finished first among all the heats at 1:57.54.

Michael Phelps competes during heat 11 of the men's 200 meters butterfly event at the U.S. National Swimming Championships in Irvine, California August 4, 2010. The 14-times Olympic champion finished first among all the heats at 1:57.54.
(Reuters)

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Italian, Dutch win open water gold at European swimming championship

Italian, Dutch win open water gold at European swimming championship

Appoline Dreyfuss and Chloe Willhelm of France perform in the women's synchronized swimming duet free routine preliminaries at the European Swimming Championships in Budapest August 5, 2010.


BUDAPEST, Aug. 5 -- On day two of the European swimming championships in Hungary on Thursday, Luca Ferretti of Italy and Linsy Heister of the Netherlands won the men's 5km and women's 10km open water events.

The races took place at Balatonfured on Lake Balaton, 120km south-west of Budapest.

Italy won all three medals in the men's race. Ferretti won gold with a time of 58 minutes 43.4 seconds, beating compatriots Simone Ercoli and Simone Ruffini into the silver and bronze positions.

Ruffini tied with Spyridon Gianniotis of Greece for third place. Title holder Thomas Lurz of Germany, who won the 10km race on Wednesday, was fifth.

Heister won the women's 10km event in 2 hours 1 minute, 6.7 seconds, less than a second ahead of Georgia Consiglio of Italy. Germany's Angela Maurer took bronze.

The first week of the competition features synchronized swimming in Budapest and open water distance swimming in Balatonfured while the pool events begin in Budapest next Monday.

Linsy Heister of the Netherlands sucks a power drink as she swims to win a gold medal in the women's 10km open water race at the European Swimming Championships in the Lake Balaton in Balatonfured August 5, 2010.

Anastasia Gloushkov and Inna Yoffe of Israel perform in the women's synchronized swimming duet free routine preliminaries at the European Swimming Championships in Budapest August 5, 2010.

Nadine Brandl and Lang Livia of Austria perform in the women's synchronized swimming duet free routine preliminaries at the European Swimming Championships in Budapest August 5, 2010.

Nadine Brandl and Lang Livia of Austria perform in the women's synchronized swimming duet free routine preliminaries at the European Swimming Championships in Budapest August 5, 2010.

Italy's Giorgia Consiglio reacts after winning the silver medal in the women's 10km open water race at the European Swimming Championships in Lake Balaton in Balatonfured August 5, 2010. Dutch swimmer Linsy Heister won the gold medal while Germany's Angela Maurer won the bronze.
(Reuters)

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Highlights of U.S. National Swimming Championships

Highlights of U.S. National Swimming Championships

Natalie Coughlin competes in the heats of the Women's 100m Butterfly event at the U.S. National Swimming Championships in Irvine, California August 3, 2010.

Rebecca Soni swims the butterfly style during the heats of the Women's 200m Individual Medley event at the U.S. National Swimming Championships in Irvine, California August 3, 2010.

Eric Shanteau swims during heats for the men's 100 meter breaststroke at the U.S. National Swimming Championships in Irvine, California August 3, 2010. Shanteau placed second in his heat.

Natalie Coughlin competes in the heats of the Women's 100m Butterfly event at the U.S. National Swimming Championships in Irvine, California August 3, 2010.

Peter Vanderkaay finishes first overall during heats for the men's 400 meters freestyle swimming event at the U.S. National Swimming Championships in Irvine, California August 3, 2010.

Ryan Lochte swims the breast-stroke during heats for the men's 400 meters individual medley at the U.S. National Swimming Championships in Irvine, California August 3, 2010.

World record holder Ariana Kukors swims the breaststroke during the heats of the Women's 200m Individual Medley event at the U.S. National Swimming Championships in Irvine, California August 3, 2010. Kukors placed third in her heat.
(Reuters)

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