Near World Record For Kitajima

British Men Show Breaststroke Prowess

BARCELONA - This morning produced a near world record in the men's 200 breast and a 14 year old boy swam to a 2:13.63 in the same event. Tonight we got even closer to the world record while Britain broke their 28 Year individual world championship gold medal drought.

In the medal race the USA has a slight edge with 12 (4-6-2) total to AUS with 10 (4-3-3) but with 23 events to remaining much can change. A total of 13 countries have meddaled after four days.

One championship and five continental records were bettered (2 America and 3 Asia).

100 Free Semi-Final Men

In the first semi, Jason Lezak (USA) went out hard and looked like he couldn't be touched, but then as usual Ian Thorpe (AUS) turned it on in the final few metres to win in a 48.71 to Lezak's 48.78.

Alexander Popov (RUS) took it out 0.25 seconds under world record pace in the 2nd semi-final against Pieter van den Hoogenband (NED), only to back off so much in the third 25 that he was unable to withstand Hoogie's final surge. Popov finished in 48.51 while Hoogie out touched him in 48.39.

50 Back Semi-Final Women

If Spain's Nina Zhivanevskaya wants to win gold for her country and home crowd, she will have to take down the top qualifier Ilona Hlavackova (CZE). They qualified with a 28.85 and 28.67 respectively. World record holder Sandra Völker (GER) is fifth heading into tomorrow night's final.

50 Breast Final Men

James Gibson (GBR) was absolutely elated to win GBR's first individual world championship gold medal in over 28 years. His winning time of 27.56 was off his best, but good enough to beat out Oleg Lisogar (UKR) and Mihaly Flaskay (HUN) in 27.74 and 27.79. "I've been working for this for 4 years," said Gibson. "I had a good start, felt very relaxed and very chilled out." Countryman Adrian Moorhouse won the 100 breast at the '86 World Champs, but was DQ'ed and lost his gold medal.

200 Free Final Women

Alena Popchenko (BLR) swam a beautiful race taking over the lead from Martina Moravcova (SVK) at the 100 and never looked back. Her winning time of 1:58.32 was just off her best from last summer.

Always the bridesmaid never the bride, Martina Moravcova won yet another silver medal in 1:58.44. "I thought lane 8 would be difficult because the pool is pretty wavy for turns, but I didn't feel it. It's my second best time since the silver medal at the Olympics."

Yu Yang (CHN) was third with 1:58.54 and said, "I am not in a very good condition, this was not my best perfrmance, I can do better that this."

200 Fly Final Men

As predicted, Michael Phelps (USA) easily put away the rest of the field to win the 200 fly. He won in 1:54.35, slower than last night's world record in the semis.

In a great swim Takashi Yamamoto (JPN) won his first major international medal with a lifetime best of 1:55.72. Former world record holder and Olympic champion, Tom Malchow (USA) was third in 1:55.60. "I was able to swim the way I wanted to," said Yamamoto. "My coach had said to me that the last 50 metres were the most important and I did what I was told."

200 Breast Semi-Final Men

It was a hot night for Britain's breaststrokers, as Ian Edmond won semi number 1 in a new British record held previously by Nick Gillingham. His time of 2:10.69 was also a Commonwealth record.

In the same semi, Mike Brown (CAN) swam into the big final with a 2:13.19. While Morgan Knabe (CAN) was 9th with 2:13.23 and just missed the finals like in 2001.

But it was the fluid stroking of Kosuke Kitajima (JPN) that was truly great. Kitajima was under world record pace throughout the entire race, just falling short over the final 10 metres to touch in a 2:09.73. "I wasn't worried about my opponents, just about myself. I wanted to go under 2:10 and I did. I also wanted to save some of my powers for tomorrow's final because I want to try to beat the world record there."

200 Fly Semi-Final Women

World record holder Otylia Jedrzejczak (POL) heads into the final in first with her 2:08.42 win in the second semi-final. She had a tight head to head race with Mary Descenza (USA) who swam a 2:08.71. In the first semi-final Eva Risztov (HUN) was all alone swimming a lovely race and touching in 2:08.88.

4x200 Free Relay Final Men

Lead off swimmers Michael Phelps (USA) and Grant Hackett (AUS) played out what might have been, had Phelps swum the 200 free individually. Phelps touched first in 1:46.60-good enough to have taken the bronze from Hackett in the individual event. But that was about the end of USA's chances. Ian Thorpe, the Aussie anchor, was given the lead and despite a 1:45.99 split from American Klete Keller, it was no match for Thorpedo. His split of 1:44.41 was the second fastest relay leg of all time. Australia won in 7:08.58, well off their world record from last year of 7:04.66.

The (USA) with 7:10.26 bettered their previous best of 7:11.81.
Canada in fifth, with 7:17.38, ahead of Great Britain with 7:18.99.

Swimming Medals as of July 23
	Gold	Silver	Bronze	TOTAL
USA	4	6	2	12
AUS	4	3	3	10
GER	3	1	2	6
GBR	1	1	1	3
RUS	1	1	1	3
JPN	1	1		2
UKR	1	1		2
CHN	1		2	3
BLR	1			1
HUN		1	1	2
SVK		1	1	2
DEN		1		1
NED		1		1
POL		1		1
FRA			1	1
ROM			1	1
	17	19	15	51