Hosszu breaks world record to claim 200m IM gold

Kazan, Russia (Reuters): Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu underlined her status as the leading all-round swimmer with a world record in the women’s 200 metres individual medley at the world championships on Monday.

Hosszu, the 2014 world swimmer of the year, clocked two minutes 6.12 seconds as the 26-year-old not only defended her title but shaved 0.03 seconds off the previous mark set by American Ariana Kukors at the 2009 world championships.

Japan’s Kanako Watanabe took silver, 2.33 seconds behind Hosszu, while Britain’s Siobhan O’Connor claimed bronze.

Britain’s Adam Peaty secured his first world title in the men’s 100m backstroke after a whirlwind 12 months on the international scene.

The 20-year-old world record holder claimed gold from Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa in 58.52 seconds, overtaking the Olympic champion in the final three strokes to win by 0.07 seconds and add to his European and Commonwealth collection. Ross Murdoch, of Britain, won bronze.

Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom set her second world record in 24 hours in coasting to the women’s 100 metres butterfly title.

Sjostrom’s time of 55.64 seconds broke her previous mark of 55.74, set in the semi-finals on Sunday when she became only the second woman to dip below 56 seconds.

She held off Nordic rival Jeanette Ottesen, who claimed silver in 57.05 seconds.