Even though she had set a world record in the 100m backstroke yesterday, the International Aquatics Federation's (FINA) Female Swimmer of the Year showed no signs of letting up as she clocked a time of 1min 59.23 sec in the 200m backstroke and touched home in the 100m individual medley in 56.70.

That beat her own best time of 56.86 from the Swimming World Cup in September.

Compatriot Daniel Gyurta controlled the men's 200m breaststroke and defended his crown with a time of 2:01.49, while another Hungarian Peter Bernek was victorious in the men's 400m freestyle, setting a Championship record time of 3:34.32.

"My goal was to defend my title," said Gyurta, the world record holder in the men's 200m breaststroke.

"My last 50m was a little bit slower than when I swam my world record so we have to improve that in the training."

Another highlight of the day saw France's Florent Manaudou win the 50m freestyle race in a world record time of 20.26, improving the previous best of 20.30 set by South Africa's Roland Schoeman five years ago. 

The 24-year-old French departed fast and kept control of the race, defeating among others the 2010 winner and former Championship record holder Cesar Cielo from Brazil, who finished in third.

France's Florent Manaudou celebrates his 50m freestyle gold medal ©Getty Images



"I did not think I would swim so fast," said Manaudou.

"The goal was not to break the world record but to beat my two main challengers.

"In the second lap, I saw I was in front and that they were not catching up so it was the near-perfect race tonight."

Spain's Mireia Belmonte claimed her fourth victory of the Championships in the 400m freestyle, having also triumphed in the 200m butterfly, the 400m individual medley and the 800m freestlye.

Belmonte touched home in a new Championship record time of 3:55.76, bettering Katie Hoff's time of 3:57.07 set in 2010 .

There was also a world record in the final of women's 4 x 50m medley relay, won by Denmark in 1:44.04, while The Netherlands won the women's 4 x 100m freestyle relay in 3:26.53, beating their own Championship record time of 3:28.22.

The Netherlands' Femke Heemskerk set a Championship record time of 51.37 in the women's 100m freestyle, as did Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom in the women's 50m butterfly, clocking a time of 24.58.

The United States' Ryan Lochte suffered a surprising defeat in the 200m individual medley, as Japan's Kosuke Hagino won in a time of 1:50.47.

"I wasn't myself during the race, it just wasn't a good race," said silver medallist Lochte.

"It's hard with the lack of training last year.

"I'm not going to make excuses; I went out there, did my best and it wasn't good enough."

A total of 12 world records have already been set with two days to go until the conclusion of  the Championships. 

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