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Women's 50 freestyle: This was a re-run of the previous day's race. Jingyi Le, CHN, lead from start to finish. Her 24.62 was the second best performance ever, just shy of her own world record from 1993. Angela Postma, NED, surprises with a silver, with 25.10 in lane eight.
Men's 100 breaststroke: On world record pace, Mark Warnecke, GER, split 28.07 (1/100th shy of world record split) but Paul Kent, NZL, pulled almost even at 75. Warnecke touched for the gold, in 59.89.
Mark Warnecke the only German swimmer to win at the championships. For larger 50k photo click on image. Photo © Ari Gomes
Women's 200 breaststroke: Leaving nothing to chance, Samantha Riley demolished the world record. She wants to leave no doubt she's best ever with the finest technique. Her disqualification at last summer's Pan Pac's cast a dark shadow and she's out to avenge what she deemed an injustice. Bettering a record held by Guohong Dai, CHN, added to the sense of revenge. "I never expected to better this record by over a second," Riley said.
Canada's Guylaine Cloutier embraces Samantha Riley AUS after record swim. For larger 50k photo click on image. Photo © Ari Gomes
Guohong Dai, 93 Samantha Riley, 95 33.40 32.08 1:10.19 36.79 1:07.73 35.65 1:46.00 35.81 1:43.99 36.26 2:21.99 35.99 2:20.85 36.86
Men's 400 freestyle: Daniel Kowalski, AUS, took the lead early, Jorg Hoffmann, GER chased doggedly after him and almost caught up, 3:45.14 to 3:45.65. The medal winners two years ago went three seconds faster.
Women's 200 freestyle: This was a perfectly paced race from Claudia Poll, CRC, who let Susan O'Neill, AUS, take the lead. At the midpoint, Poll eased ahead and finished strongly to better van Almsick's old record by half a second. O'Neill was second with Martina Moravcova, SVK, a close third.
Costa Rica's Claudia Poll swam to gold in the 200m and 400m free. For larger 50k photo click on image. Photo © Ari Gomes
Poll thought the record was within reach. "I knew it was possible. I did all I could to beat it," she said. Good pacing was evident:
van Almsick, 93 Claudia Poll, 95 26.67 27.74 55.72 29.05 56.95 29.21 1:25.99 30.27 1:26.33 29.38 1:55.84 29.85 1:55.42 29.09
Men's 200 backstroke: Qualifying first, Chris Renaud had a real shot at a medal. The race had Renaud in the lead after the midpoint. Cuba's veteran Rodolfo Falcon finished strongly to just touch ahead, 1:55.16 to Renaud's 1:55.27 (who missed Tewksbury's Canadian record by 2/100ths).
Falcon was Cuba's first world level winner. "It is the most important moment in my life," he said. "After the heats, I felt I could win a medal, even win." The two swimmers fromCuba had been training in Rio for the month before the championships.
Mark Versfeld, CAN, finished 10th in 1:57.80.
Women's 100 backstroke: Misty Hyman, USA, saved the Americans from a complete whiteout, with their only gold of the championships. She does the maximum allowable underwater kick, but the surface swimmers have the advantage. She touched ahead of Mette Jacobsen, DEN, by 4/100ths. Barbara Bedford, USA, added the bronze. Julie Howard, CAN, was fifth.
Men's 4x200 free relay: Australia left no doubt in this one, with a half-a-pool lead at the midpoint over Germany and Brazil, and that was the finish order.
Women's 800 freestyle: Julia Jung, GER and Carla Geurts, NED, had the lead until 600 m when Hardcastle, GBR, moved ahead. Ping Luo, CHN, closed in on the leaders with 100 to go, finishing third. Jung faded to seventh. Hardcastle won in 8:26.46.