Schoeman Breaks 23 Second Barrier, Hardy Surprises with WR

Roland Schoeman (RSA) won the 50 butterfly in his second world record in two days with 22.96, bettering his semi-final time of 23.01 from yesterday. Schoeman was off the block fastest (reaction time of 0.63) and held a slight lead to win the gold. Former record holder Ian Crocker (USA) in second with 23.12, well under his former record of 23.30. Sergiy Breus (UKR) was third in 23.38, his best ever.

"e;It is quite phenomenal to be the first person to be able to do this,"e; Schoeman said. I didn't expect to go under 23.00. There is a lot more pressure during the final and it will be a motivational factor."e;

"e;I knew the race was going to be won in the first 15 metres."e; Crocker said. "e;I am happy with my performance, it was my best time. I wanted to get the record back but I wasn't fast enough off the blocks."e;

Brendan Hansen (USA) finally found the secret to beating Kosuke Kitajima (JPN). Hansen holds the world records from last year, but Kitajima was unbeatable at the Olympics, and the year before at the 2003 FINA World Championships. This year, motivated solely by avenging his disappointments of the past, Hansen finally found the key to beating his rival. In the final of the men's 100 breatstroke, Hansen took off turning first at the 50 in 27.95 and holding on to his half-a-body lead finished in 59.37 for Kitajima's 59.53 (his best ever). It was really a superb race. Hansen bettered the championship record set by Kitajima yesterday of 59.71.

Hugues Duboscq (FRA) battled Oleg Lisogor (UKR) for the bronze, with Duboscq touching in 1:00.20 to Lisogor's 1:00.36.

"e;The extra thing I had tonight was emotions."e; Hansen explained. "e;When you get beat in front of a crowd like I did last summer, and come out here in the same situation, standing on the same starting block, it was like getting a second chance, and I didn't want to screw it up again. I didn't look at either side of me, swam my race, and obviously with a different outcome. What makes a good swimmer is one who can come back after a great disappointment, and rebound and go faster. I let what happened last summer motivate me and prepare me for this event."e;

There was no comment available from Kitajima but bronze medal winner Duboscq said: "e;I swam the first 50 metres on energy saver mode, and the last 5 metres were perfect. It's been a very good year for me. Next up will be the 50 breaststroke is one of my favourites and I will give it all in the finals."e;

The women's 100 butterfly was battle among Australian Jessica Schipper and Lisbeth Lenton. Clearly in the lead on the first length, turning well ahead of the rest of the field, Schipper was able to touch ahead of Lenton by a small margin. Schipper's 57.23 was a championship record, and it was the third time she lowered it here. Lenton's time was 57.37, both were at their best ever. Otylia Jedrzejczak (POL) took the bronze in 58.57.

"e;I had an amazing swim,"e; Schipper said. "e;I just won my first individual World Championships, I can't really complain about my time."e;

Out of the medals but in fourth and fifth were Rachel Komisarz and Mary Descenza (USA) with 58.80 and 58.87 respectively.

Katie Hoff (USA) was unbeatable in the 200 individual medley, winning every leg (28,59, 1:01.68, 1:39.39,) to finish in 2:10.41, for a championship record. Her pace was ahead of the world record until the 150, and she swam the freestyle leg in 30.62, while the world record split is 30.28. So expect her to improve on that aspect of her race next time.

Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) just minutes after her semi-final in the 100 backstroke, finished in second with 2:11.13, much faster than her previous best. Lara Carroll (AUS) in third with 2:13.32.

"e;This feels amazing."e; Hoff said, "e;I felt like this was my pressure event, so just to get it done and do so great, it's just so exciting. I was relaxed and have done the training to back it up. I have trained very hard and told myself there was no way to let it go to waste. It is my time. During the medal ceremonies my whole race was flashing through my mind. I can't believe it, and I couldn't believe the national anthem was playing for me."e;

"e;It felt good but a little hard after the 100 backstroke."e; Coventry said. "e;It was my best time. Katie swam a great race and that is exciting because there is more of us to push each other and get better. I only had 15 minutes between my semi-final and this race."e;

A finalist in Athens in both IMs, Carroll said, "e;My goal was to do better than I did in Athens (6th). I did that, and it feels great."e;

Semi-Finals
A world record from Jessica Hardy (USA) in the women's 100 breaststroke with 1:06.20, bettering Leisel Jones (AUS) record from 2003 of 1:06.37. An amazing start to an international career for Hardy, who is on her first American international team. Jones qualified second with 1:06.93.

Michael Phelps (USA) qualified first in the 200 freestyle in 1:46.33. It took 1:48.11 to reach finals.

All eight finalists in the men's 100 backstroke were within half a second with Aaron Peirsol (USA) leading that field in 54.46, eighth place was 54.88.

Natalie Coughlin (USA) was the fastest qualifier in the women's 100 backstroke in 1:00.59, with 1:01.64 being the eight place cut-off.

After two days Australia leads the swimming medal table with 6 and 5 for the USA with three golds each.