Russia sets swimming world record in 4x50 medley

DOHA, Qatar (AP) Hungarian swimmer Katinka Hosszu set a world record in winning the women's 100-meter backstroke at the short-course world championships on Thursday.

It was one of the three world records on the second day of the championships at Hamad Aquatic Centre.

Hosszu clocked 55.03 seconds, surpassing the record of 55.23 set by Shiho Sakai of Japan in Berlin in 2009. She broke her own meet record on Wednesday, with 55.70.

Emily Seebohm of Australia took sliver in 55.31, and Daryna Zevina of Ukraine was third in 55.54.

Hosszu answered her critics after she was beaten twice in finals by Mireia Belmonte Garcia on Wednesday, after being chosen world female swimmer of the year.

''I came close to breaking this record three times and I am excited to have finally succeeded,'' Hosszu said. ''I was not there to prove anything. It was not down to two silver medals. Mireia raced better than me on Wednesday, that is why she won.

''I thought last night about the races. I was very focused today. I did pretty well on the first day, too.''

However, Garcia got the better of Hosszu again when she claimed her third gold medal of the meet as she cruised to victory in the 800 freestyle, with Hosszu ninth.

Meanwhile, Chad le Clos of South Africa, the male swimmer of the year, picked up his second gold, and broke the 100 butterfly world record.

Le Clos won in 48.44 seconds, slicing .04 seconds off the mark by Russian Evgeny Korotyshkin in Berlin in 2009.

The day's other world record was by Brazil in the men's 4x50 medley relay, improving a mark set hours earlier by Russia.

Brazil's quartet of Guilherme Guido, Felipe Franca Silva, Nicholas Santos and Cesar Cielo finished in 1 minute, 30.51 seconds to take the gold and shave more than two seconds off the record Russia set in the morning heats.

This was the first time the event was staged at the worlds. France was second, the United States third, and Russia fourth.

Olympic champion Ruta Meilutyte avenged her World Cup loss to Jamaica's Alia Atkinson by winning the 50 breastroke, but was visibly disappointed at missing the world record time. The Lithuanian teen touched in 28.84. In the heats, she posted 28.81, one-hundredth of a second outside Jessica Hardy's record of 28.80.

Ryan Lochte won a record sixth consecutive short-course worlds gold, helping the United States in the 4x200 freestyle. Lochte was partnered by Conor Dwyer, Matt McLean and Tyler Clary, whose late effort helped them to retain the title.

Brazil's Felipe Franca Silva also had a fruitful night, winning three gold medals as part of the two relays, and in the 100 breaststroke.