In the women's events, China's teenager Zhao Jing gave a good account of herself in the 100 meter backstroke final. But Britain's Gemma Spofforth and Russia's Anastasia Zueva soon took control after the 50 meter mark. Spofforth eventually set a world record to claim gold in a time of 58.12 seconds. Zueva took silver after finishing just 6 hundredths of a second behind the Briton.

Meanwhile, American Rebecca Soni came within a whisker of her own world record to take gold in the women's 100 metres breaststroke in one minute 4.93 seconds.

Local heroine Italian Alessia Filippi saw off a sustained challenge from Dane Lotte Friis to win the women's 1,500 metres freestyle. Filippi swam a championship record of 15 minutes 44.93.

(CCTV July 29, 2009)