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Emily Seebohm storms 2nd fastest women's 100m backstroke in Beijing

Xinhua, September 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

World champions Emily Seebohm of Australia scored the second fastest time of the year in the women's 100m backstroke at the FINA/airweave Swimming World Cup 2015 here on Wednesday.

Seebohm, double winner in the 100m and 200m backstroke in the World Championships in Kazan last month, claimed victory in the 100m back in 58.59, which ranked second in the world rankings just behind her own result and was well enough for her world title.

Missy Franklin of United States came to fourth after Katinka Hosszu of Hungary and Chen Jie of China.

"I swam 58.26 in Kazan, I did not expect I could swim that fast I am happy that it is just the beginning of the season. I would love to get faster and faster in the next stops of the World Cup and get ready for Rio Olympic Games," Seebohm said.

Cate and Bronte Campbell again scored a one-two finish for Australia in the women's 100m freestyle, with Cate winning in 52.96, 0.02 seconds faster than Bronte Just a reverse of the positions they placed in Kazan worlds where Bronte claimed gold. Missy Franklin of the United States came to third in 54.39.

"A very tight race. Bronte just pushed me all the way. I am happy with the result. It is good to swim like this in the early season. We had two weeks holiday after World Championships and back to training. No more Christmas and no more New Year holidays as we start to prepare for the Olympic Games. We have a lot of works to do. We will have national Olympic trails in next April," Cate said.

Dan Smith added one more gold for Australia in the men's 200m freestyle 1:46.70.

Chinese swimmers grabbed three titles as Xu Jiayu touched home first in men's 50m backstroke 24.65, Guo Junjun snatched gold in women's 400m freestyle 4:08.46, and Zhang Xinyu winning in women's 200m breaststroke 2:27.17.

"It is very close to my personal best. I am really tired after Kazan worlds and national championships. I need improve my techniques in the winter training session," Xu said.

Katinka Hosszu finished a gold in her favorite 400m individual medley, a silver in 100m backstroke 1:00.26, a bronze in 400m freestyle 4:10.22,

8th in 100m freestyle.

"It is a nice start of the year but I expected more golds. It is the year of Olympic Games, I need to train harder and focus on training and competing. I am looking forward to next race. I will keep my running races until the Olympic Games," Hosszu said.

Zsuzsanna Jakabos of Hungary won the women's 200m butterfly 2:09.90 and her teammate David Verraszto dominated the men's 200m individual medley 2:01.72.

Masato Sakai of Japan stood atop twice in the men's 100m butterfly 53.52 and 1500m freestyle 15:29.46, Katsumi Nakmura took the victory in men's 50m freestyle 22.27, Yuki Shirai lift the title of men's 200m backstroke 1:57.98.

In other events, Alia Atkinson of Jamaica topped the women's 50m breaststroke 30.65, Cameron Van Der Burgh of South Africa ruled the men's 100m breaststroke 59.76, Jeanette Ottesen of Denmark beat China's Lu Ying and Qiu Yuhan to win the women's 50m butterfly 25.81.

FINA/airweave World Cup will come to Singapore on Oct. 3-4. Endite