Swimming World Championships - Day 8

Michael Phelps smashed his own world record in the 400m individual medley to claim a record seventh gold medal at the World Championships in Melbourne.

Britains, Liam Tancock, with a bronze already to his name, claimed another in the Men's 50m Backstroke Final in a time of 25.23. Gold went to Gerhard Zandberg of South Africa in 24.98 and silver to Thomas Rupprath of Germany in 25.20. Briton Matt Clay finished fifth in 25.32.

Kate Haywood finished seventh in the Women's 50m Breaststroke Final in 31.82. Jess Hardy (USA) won the gold in 30.63, with Leisel Jones (Australia) second in 30.70 and Tara Kirk (USA) third in 31.05.

Michael Phelps (USA) won the Men's 400m Individual Medley Final in a world record time of four minutes 6.22 seconds. Compatriat Ryan Lochte was ahaed after the backstroke leg, but he was not troubled after cruising past him on the breastroke lap. Italian Luca Marin charged into third.

Australia's Libby Lenton won an exciting Women's 50m Freestyle Final and secured her fifth gold medal off the championship. Lenton surged late to finish in 24.53, ahead of Sweden's Therese Alshammer, while Marleen Veldhuis (Netherlands) was third.

Olympic medallist David Davies equaled his bronze medal finish of two years ago in the Men's 1500m Freestyle Final. Gold went to young Mateusz Sawrymowicz of Poland, who lead the race from the first third, in a time of 14:45.94 while Russia’s Yury Prilukov took the silver in 14:47.29 and Davies the bronze in 14:51.21, ahead of Olympic and defending World Champion Grant Hackett (Australia) and Olympic silver medallist Larsen Jensen (USA).

American Katie Hoff won the Women's 400m Individual Medley Final in world record time of 4:32.89 and her third gold medal of the championships. Russian Yana Martynova took silver, and Australian Stephanie Rice the bronze.

Britain’s quartet of Liam Tancock, James Gibson, Matt Bowe and Simon Burnett were fifth in the Men's 4 x 100m Medley Relay Final in a new British Record time of 3:36.18. Gold went to Australia in 3:34.93, silver to Japan in 3:35.16 and Russia took bronze in 3:35.51, with the Americans having been disqualified in the heats.