Missy Franklin earned her third gold medal in four days at the 2013 FINA world championships with a victory in the women’s 200-meter freestyle. She held off a furious charge by Olympic champion Federica Pellegrini of Italy to win in a time of 1 minute, 54.81 seconds. Franklin remains perfect in Barcelona with three finals and three gold medals to show for her efforts. However, the bid for eight gold medals — a feat never accomplished at a world championships — ended when Franklin scratched the 50 backstroke semifinal to focus on the 200 freestyle. Franklin has four more events to go over the final four days. Tomorrow she has the 100 free preliminaries and semifinals, plus the 4×200 free relay along with Bethesda’s Katie Ledecky.
South African also had a huge night. They took home two golds and bronze on Wednesday, including the first world title in the 200 butterfly ever for a non-American or non-European swimmer. Chad Le Clos, the man who beat Michael Phelps in his signature event in London, won the men’s event in a time of 1:54.32. Two events later, his countrymen, Cameron Van Der Burgh and Giulio Zorzi, earned gold and bronze for South Africa in the men’s 50 breaststroke. Van Der Burgh touched .10 seconds of the world record in a time of 26.77. Christian Sprenger of Australia was second in 26.78. [Full day's recap here]
Full results available here
Take a look back at day four’s events at the 2013 FINA world championships in Barcelona in pictures. [Click to enlarge]
South Africa's Cameron Van Der Burgh celebrates after winning the final of the men's 50-metre breaststroke
(L to R) Portugal's Diogo Carvalho, Germany's Markus Deibler, Ryan Lochte and Hungary's Laszlo Cseh coming off the wall in the men's 200 IM semifinal. (Michael Dalder/Retuers)
Gold medalist Missy Franklin (L) poses with bronze medalist Camille Muffat of France on the podium during the award ceremony of the women's 200-meter freestyle. (Pierre-Philippe Marcou/Getty Images)
Slovenia's Damir Dugonjic (L) and South Africa's Cameron van der Burgh during the men's 50-meter breaststroke. (Michael Dalder/Reuters)
Missy Franklin prepares to compete in the women's 200-meter freestyle. (Josep Salau/Getty Images)
Chad Le Clos of South Africa celebrates after winning the men's 200-meter butterfly final. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
China's Sun Yang stretches before teh start of the men's 800-meter freestyle. (Fabrice
Liu Zige of China competes in the women's 200-meter butterfly semifinal. (Michael Dalder/Reuters)
Swimmers at the start of the women's 50m backstroke semifinal. (Albert Gea/Reuters)
South Africa's Cameron Van Der Burgh gestures as he celebrates after winning the final of the men's 50-meter breaststroke. (Pierre-Philippe Marcou/Getty Images)
Cameron van der Burgh swims to win the men's 50-meter breaststroke. (Albert Gea/Reuters)
Ryan Lochte swims the breaststroke leg of the men's 200-meter IM semifinal. (Michael Sohn/Associated Press)
Ryan Lochte during the backstroke leg of the men's 200-meter IM. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Missy Franklin (R) and second placed Federica Pellegrini of Italy (L) react after the women's 200-meter freestyle. (Michael Dalder/Reuters)
Missy Franklin adjusts her goggles before the final of the women's 200-meter freestyle. (Fabrice Coffrini/Getty Images)
China's Sun Yang (top) celebrates with Connor Jaeger (C) after winning the final of the men's 800-meter freestyle. (Francois Xavier Marit/Getty Images)
Missy Franklin (L) and Italy's Federica Pellegrini competing in the women's 200-meter freestyle. (Michael Dalder/Reuters)
Katinka Hosszu of Hungary competes during the women's 200-meter butterfly semifinal. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Related Links
1. Katie Ledecky, 16, smashes world record in women’s 1,500 meter
2. Katie Ledecky breaks 1,500 free world record [complete race footage]
3. Katie Ledecky shatters world record to lead Team USA to three golds on day 3
4. Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte sets year’s first world record in 100 breast