Chinese Team Takes First Gold in Athens Short-course

The Chinese swimming team won its first gold medal on March 17, the second day of the 5th World Short-Course Swimming Championships that is being held in the Greek capital of Athens.

China's first gold came after Chen Hua set a new championships record in the fast heat of the women's 800-meter free, easily clocking 8:17.03 minutes. On Thursday, Hao Ping of China finished second in the women's 50-meter breaststroke with 31.22 while the Chinese women's team won the bronze in the 4x200 freestyle with 7:52.70.

Five more world records and four more championships records were broken Friday. Sweden's Lars Frolander set a new world record in the men's 100-meter butterfly with 50.44 while his colleague, Therese Alshammar, broke the world record in the women's 100-meter free with 52.17. Other world records were set by Gordan Kozulj of Croatia in the men's 200-meter backstroke with 1:53.31, Roman Sloudnov from Russia in the men's 100-meter breaststroke semi-finals with 58.51 and the U.S. men's team in the 4x200-meter relay free with 7:01.33.

The championships records were set by Jenny Thompson of the United States in the women's 50-meter butterfly with 26.13, Neil Walker, also from the United States, in the semi-finals of men's 100-meter medley with 53.27 and Mark Foster of Britain in the semi-finals of the men's 50-meter free with 21.43.

Australia's Rebecca Brown won the gold in the women's 200-meter breaststroke with 2:23.41, and the three other golds were won by Sandra Voelker of Germany in the women's 100-meter backstroke with 58.66, Mark Foster in the men's 50-meter free with 21.58, and Chad Carvin of the United States in the men's 400-meter free with 3:41,13.

The Athens Swimming Championships will last four days with the participation of more than 540 swimmers among 77 countries.

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