Katinka Hosszu of Hungary reacts after setting a world record in the women's 200-meter individual medley — her fourth of the week. (Osama Faisal/Associated Press)
DOHA, Qatar — Katinka Hosszu set her fourth world record at the short-course world championships when the Hungarian swimmer smashed her own mark to win the women’s 200-meter individual medley on Saturday.
Hosszu crushed the field and touched in 2 minutes 1.86 seconds, bettering her record of 2:02.13 set in August in Dubai.
(L-R) Siobhan-Marie O'Conner, Katinka Hosszu and Melanie Margalis celebrate with their medals for the women's 200 IM. (Francois Nel/Getty Images)
Her fourth record and gold medal of the meet equalled Mireia Belmonte Garcia’s tally, with the Spaniard not in action in any of the finals on Saturday at Hamad Aquatic Centre.
“I wanted to break another two-minute barrier. But I am happy with the record,” Hosszu said. “I have 200-meter freestyle tomorrow and I will focus on that. It’s tiring (to race many events) but the feeling of victory charges me.”
On the penultimate day, Alia Atkinson equalled a world record, and three more marks were broken.
Atkinson became Jamaica’s first short-course world champion when she won the women’s 100 breaststroke final, not only holding off defending champion Ruta Meilutyte, but also matching her mark of 1:02.36.
“I’m not used to seeing my name up there at No. 1. It’s a good shock,” said a smiling Atkinson, who won silver in the 50 breastroke behind Meilutyte on Thursday.
Alia Atkinson of Jamaica reacts after winning the women's 100 breaststroke. (Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Lithuania’s Meilutyte finished second.
Meanwhile, Florent Manaudou of France set his second record in 24 hours, in winning the men’s 50 backstroke.
Manaudou set a record in the 50 freestyle final on Friday. On Saturday, he timed 22.22 seconds, erasing 0.39 seconds off the previous mark set in a suit in 2009 by Peter Marshall of the U.S.
South Africa star Chad Le Clas earned his third gold in the 50 butterfly, and Russia improve its own record mark in taking the men’s 4×50 freestyle relay. Vladimir Morozov, Evgeny Sedov, Oleg Tikhobaev and Sergei Fesikov finished in 1:22.60 seconds, slicing 0.76 seconds off their previous record.
The U.S. took silver in 1:23.47, and Italy bronze in 1:24.56.
U.S. Notebook: Team USA sets mixed freestyle relay world record
(L-R) Josh Schneider, Matt Grevers, Madison Kennedy and Abbey Weitzeil of the USA celebrates on the podium after setting a world record in the mixed freestyle relay. (Francois Nel/Getty Images)
A world record by Team USA in the mixed 4×50 freestyle relay finished out Day 4 in strong fashion. The United States leads the medal table with 13 medals.
In the evening’s final race, the mixed 4×50 freestyle relay team set a world record and won gold with a time of 1:28.57. Abbey Weitzeil took the anchor leg with USA in third place and turned in a 23.25 split for the win. Josh Schneider led off, followed by Matt Grevers and Madison Kennedy.
“Anchoring a relay for Team USA is really exciting. When it was my turn, it was just time for me to do my part,” Weitzeil said. “The team did its part and I just went for it and it came out great. Setting a world record was really awesome.”
Earning his first-ever individual medal at short-course worlds, Eugene Godsoe placed runner-up in the men’s 50 backstroke with a 23.05.
Also picking up her first individual medal, Melanie Margalis placed third in the women’s 200m individual medley with a time of 2:06.68. She was fifth entering the final 25 meters, but passed two competitors with a 30.02 freestyle split.
Opening the session with a runner-up finish was the men’s 4×50 medley relay team of Schneider, Tom Shields, Jimmy Feigen and Ryan Lochte. The quartet posted an American record 1:23.47.