Walsh refreshes world record three times on Day 4 of short course swimming worlds

Gretchen Walsh of the United States shattered the women's 100m butterfly world record in heats and semifinals before breaking the world record for the third time of the day to win the 100m individual medley gold at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m).

BUDAPEST, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Gretchen Walsh of the United States sparkled on the fourth day of the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m), shattering world record three times for a total of seven this week in Budapest.

In Friday morning's women's 100m butterfly heats, Walsh set a new world record with an electrifying time of 53.24 seconds. Later in the semifinals, she improved the world record to 52.87.

In the women's 100m individual medley final, Walsh recorded her third world record of the day, grabbing the gold in 55.11 seconds. Fellow American Kate Douglass and Beryl Gastaldello of France secured silver and bronze respectively.

Douglass secured the women's 200m breaststroke gold with a world record-breaking time of 2:12.50. Evgeniia Chikunova of Russia, competing as a neutral athlete, earned silver while Alex Walsh of the United States claimed bronze.

The women's 50m backstroke final featured a world record-breaking performance by Regan Smith of the United States, who won gold with a time of 25.23.

American swimmers also bettered the world record in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay final, where they clocked 6:40.51, nearly four seconds off their previous record of 6:44.12. Australia secured the silver medal with 6:45.54, a new Oceanian record. Italy took bronze.

18-year-old Miron Lifintsev of Russia, competing as a neutral athlete, claimed the men's 50m backstroke gold in 22.47 seconds, setting a new world junior record. Isaac Cooper of Australia, who finished 0.02 seconds behind, also set a new Oceanian record. Shane Ryan of Ireland earned bronze.

Also on Saturday, Italy won the mixed 4x50m freestyle relay title with a time of 1:28.50. Spain's Carles Coll Marti triumphed in the men's 200m breaststroke final in 2:01.55. Noe Ponti of Switzerland clinched the men's 100m individual medley gold with a championship record time of 50.33. Isabel Gose of Germany emerged victorious in the women's 1,500m freestyle final with a time of 15:24.69.

After four competition days, the United States leads the medal table with 13 golds, eight silvers and five bronzes. ■