Australian Leisel Jones broke her second short-course world record in as many nights, taking the spotlight off American Michael Phelps with victory in the 200m breaststroke at a World Cup meet yesterday.
Jones powered through the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Center pool in 2 minutes, 17.75 seconds, bettering the previous mark of 2:18.86, set by China's Qi Hui in Shanghai in December of last year.
PHOTO: AP
Phelps was just outside the short-course world record in winning the 200-meter individual medley, his second win of the night and fourth in two nights.
Phelps, who set five world records at the world championships in Barcelona, Spain, this year, won in 1:54.85, just 0.20 outside the nine-year-old world mark held by Jani Sievenen of Finland.
"I was hoping to do it but I fell a little short," said Phelps. "It gives us something to work for."
Phelps also won 200m backstroke in 1:51.40. He beat Australian Matt Welsh (1:52.18) and Germany's Sebastian Halgasch (1:54.88).
Jones broke Swede Emma Igelstrom's 100m world mark by two-hundredths of a second on Friday, with a time of 1:05.09.
Jones, who beat compatriot Brooke Hanson (2:22.03) and American Amanda Beard (2:22.33), described Saturday's record as "pretty amazing" after having felt "shocking" in the morning heats.
"I'm really quite shocked," Jones said. "I wasn't feeling too crash hot this morning, but it all worked out. The last 50 was quite amazing. I thought either Amanda Beard is catching me or I'm under world record pace."
Jones said she had gone into the race relaxed and this had helped her to her second world mark.
"I just wanted to get out there and relax and that helped me, I had no expectations," she added.
Jones said after the first 100m of Saturday's final that she had slowed marginally because she was well out in front.
"I kept my stroke controlled and made it as easy as possible on myself. I was able to come back in the last 100m."
American Lindsay Benko, the world record holder in the 400m freestyle, celebrated her 27th birthday with victory in the event in 4:02.29. Benko was outside her world mark of 3:59.53 but pulled away in the last lap to beat Australians Elka Graham (4:02.33) and Kasey Giteau (4:07.21). American Ed Moses, the short-course 200m breaststroke world record holder, finished third in the 100m event.
SSC Napoli’s Italian Serie A title hopes suffered a late setback on Sunday when they were held to a 2-2 draw at home against Genoa, setting up a thrilling season finale with closest rivals Inter just one point behind. The hosts remain top with 78 points, holding a slim lead over Inter, who won 2-0 at Torino earlier on Sunday, with two rounds remaining. To make matters worse for Napoli, midfielder Stanislav Lobotka, struggling with an ankle injury, was forced off just minutes after the match began. Scott McTominay delivered a perfect pass into the box where Romelu Lukaku got
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Shohei Ohtani on Thursday delivered his first two-homer game of the season and had six RBIs as the Los Angeles Dodgers poured it on with five long balls in a 19-2 victory over the visiting Athletics. Max Muncy, Andy Pages and James Outman also hit home runs for the Dodgers, who left no doubt by taking a 13-2 lead following a seven-run third inning. Muncy and Kim Hye-seong each had three hits for Los Angeles. Dodgers right-hander Matt Sauer led off a bullpen game by allowing two runs in four innings. Left-hander Justin Wrobleski (1-1) finished with four scoreless innings after he
RSS