Swimming World Championships - Day 7

American Michael Phelps claimed a record-equalling sixth gold medal at the World Championships in Melbourne when he stormed to the 100m butterfly title.

Sweden's Therese Alshammar captured her country's first gold medal of the championships with her victory in the Women's 50m Butterfly Final. She finished in 25.91 seconds, with Australia's Danni Miatke second in 26.05 and Dutchwoman Inge Dekker third in 26.11.

American Ben Wildman-Tobriner won the Men's 50m Freestyle Final in a time of 21.88 seconds. Compatriat Cullen Jones took silver in 21.94, with Swede Stefan Nystrand claiming bronze 21.97. Only 0.17 separated the first five swimmers.

The youngest member of the British team, 16-year-old Lizzie Simmonds finish eighth in the Women's 200m Backstroke Final in a personal best time of 2:11.09. American Margaret Hoelzer won in a time of 2:07.16. Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry took the silver in 2:07.54, while Japan's Reiko Nakamura (2:08.54) claimed bronze.

In the Women's 50m Breaststroke Semi-Final, Kate Haywood qualified eighth fastest in 31.72. Australian Leisel Jones was fastest. Compatriat Tarnee White and Jessica Hardy (USA) will share the centre lanes.

Michael Phelps secured his sixth gold medal of these championships in the Men's 100m Butterfly Final. Phelps was third at the half way turn, 0.43 of a second behind compatriat Ian Crocker. In an exciting finish he managed to win by just 0.05 of a second. Venezuela's Albert Subirats took bronze, the first-ever for his country.

Fran Halsall failed to qualify from the Women's 50m Freestyle Semi-Final. She finished eleventh in a personal best time of 25.32. Dutchwoman Marleen Veldhuis was fastest through but Libby Lenton (Australia), Kara Lynn Joyce (USA) and Therese Alshammar (Sweden) also qualified well.

Liam Tancock, a bronze medallist in the 100m Backstroke, qualified fastest from the Men's 50m Backstroke Semi-Final in a time of 25.08. Fellow Brit Matthew Clay was fifth fastest in 25.48. German's Steffen Driesen and Thomas Rupprath also qualified well.

American Kate Ziegler won the Women's 800m Freestyle Final, just ahead of medallist Laure Manadou (France). The pair exchanged the lead throughout the race, with Manadou ahead by almost half a second with 50m to go. But Ziegler prevailed in a massive personal best by 0.28 of a second. Hayley Peirsol (USA) was third, nearly six seconds behind Manadou.

The British quartet came close to grabbing a medal in the Women's 4 x 100m Medley Relay Final. Mel Marshall on the backstroke leg ensured Britain kept pace with the field behind an Australian team that eventually won gold in a new World Record time. Breaststroke medallist Kirsty Balfourwent well over the second leg before Terri Dunning kept Britain in contention with the Butterfly. Fran Halsall swam a very strong final Freestyle leg a new British Record of 4:02.18.Australia finished in 3:55.74 while the USA took silver in 3:58.31 and China the bronze in 4:01.97.