Liu breaks 50-meter backstroke world record at Asian Games

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Liu Xiang swam a world-record time of 26.98 seconds to win the women's 50-meter backstroke gold medal on Tuesday night at the Asian Games.

The 21-year-old Liu, who prefers swimming the freestyle, became the first woman to break 27 seconds in the event, lowering the record of 27.06 set by fellow Chinese swimmer Zhao Jing at the world championships in Rome in 2009 before the contentious rubberized suits were banned.

AP Photo/Lee Jin-man Women's 50-meter backstroke gold medalist China's Liu Xiang stands on the podium at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.

``My main focus is actually the 50-meter freestyle,'' Liu said through a translator. ``I didn't expect to break the world record at all.

``Because the focus is on freestyle, I didn't have any pressure. I could concentrate on my own performance.''

Fu Yuanhui took silver in 27.68 in a 1-2 finish for China and Japan's Natsumi Sakai, the 2017 world junior champion, won bronze in 27.91.

Fu won the 50 and 100 backstroke titles at the 2014 Asian Games, was world champion in the 50 backstroke in 2015 and picked up an Olympic bronze in the 100 backstroke at Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Liu, who had a previous best of 27.40 and was a bronze medalist in the 50 backstroke at the 2015 world championships, said she still had other events so wouldn't celebrate for a while.

``This gold medal and world record will give me more confidence when competing in the freestyle,'' she said.

The 50 backstroke is not raced at the Olympics, so the world and continental championships hold some significance for those who enjoy the one-lap sprints.

``Still kind of an achievement in swimming,'' Liu said, adding that the event's absence from the Olympic program, ``doesn't make any difference.''</s>JAKARTA (Reuters) - China’s Liu Xiang surprised even herself when she swam a world record time to win the women’s 50 metres backstroke at the Asian Games on Tuesday, storming home in 26.98 seconds to claim her first major title.

Swimming - 2018 Asian Games - Women's 50m Backstroke Final - GBK Aquatics Center - Jakarta, Indonesia - August 21, 2018 - Liu Xiang of China celebrates after winning the gold medal and breaking the world record. REUTERS/Jeremy Lee

The 21-year-old’s time bettered the 27.06 seconds which her compatriot Zhao Jing swam in a bodysuit at the Rome world championships in 2009.

It was the first world record to fall in the Asian Games pool since Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima improved the 200m breaststroke mark in Busan in 2002.

“I didn’t see the result I only heard the words ‘world record’, I couldn’t believe it!,” Liu told reporters at the Jakarta pool.

“It was like a dream. I did not expect to do that! It’s not even my favourite event.”

Immediately dubbed ‘The Mermaid’ by the media back home, Liu was not going to let the fact that the event is not contested at the Olympic Games take the gloss off her achievement.

“I am just happy that I made a breakthrough,” she said.

“I don’t care whether it’s an Olympic event or not, all I care about is doing the best for myself.”

Liu, who won a bronze in the event at the 2015 world championships in Kazan, credited her recent training regime for her improvement.

“I improved my legwork over the last few months when we were training in the United States, and I think that made me better,” she said.

Former world champion and defending Asian Games champion Fu Yuanhui, who is on the comeback trail after a shoulder injury, finished second in 27.68 with Japan’s Natsumi Sakai claiming bronze in 27.91.

Fu, who became a social media sensation at the 2016 Rio Olympics due to her quirky personality, said she was delighted for her team mate.

“It’s a great thing that Liu kept the world record in Chinese hands,” said the Olympic 100m backstroke bronze medallist.

“My own performance was pretty much what I expected, I’m about 70 percent at the moment.”

Liu will race again in the 50m freestyle on Thursday and hopes to have more to celebrate then.

“Today I will not celebrate,” she said. “Maybe I will celebrate after I win a gold medal from 50m freestyle?”</s>Liu Xiang breaks the women's 50m backstroke world record in 26.98 seconds at Asian Games 2018，first woman breaks 27 seconds threshhold</s>Chinese swimmer Liu Xiang on Tuesday set a new world record at the women's 50-meter backstroke event at the 2018 Asian Games.

Liu clocked a time of 26.98 seconds to take gold, ahead of her compatriot Fu Yuanhui who took silver (27.68), while Japan's Natsumi Sakai got bronze (27.91).</s>Liu Xiang of China swam a world-record time of 26.98 seconds to win the women's 50-meter backstroke gold medal on Tuesday night at the Asian Games.

Liu has become the first woman to swim under 27 seconds in the event, breaking the mark of 27.06 set by fellow Chinese swimmer Zhao Jing at the 2009 world championships in Rome.

The 21-year-old Liu is entered in the 50 backstroke and 50 freestyle at the Asian Games. She was a bronze medalist in the backstroke at the 2015 world championships and had a previous best time of 27.40.

Fu Yuanhui took silver in 27.68 in a 1-2 finish for China and Japan's Natsumi Sakai, the 2017 world junior champion, took bronze in 27.91.

Fu won the 50 and 100 backstroke titles at the 2014 Asian Games, was world champion in the 50 backstroke in 2015 and picked an Olympic bronze in the 100 backstroke at Rio de Janeiro in 2016.</s>JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Liu Xiang of China has set a world record time of 26.98 seconds to win the women's 50-meter backstroke gold medal at the Asian Games.

Liu has become the first woman to swim under 27 seconds in the event, breaking the mark of 27.06 set by fellow Chinese swimmer Zhao Jing at the 2009 world championships in Rome.

Fu Yuanhui took silver in 27.68 in a 1-2 finish for China and Natsumi Sakai of Japan took bronze in 27.91.</s>JAKARTA, Aug 21 (Reuters) - China’s Liu Xiang swam a world record time to win the women’s 50 metres backstroke at the Asian Games on Tuesday, storming home in 26.98 seconds to claim her first major global title.

The 21-year-old’s time bettered the 27.06 seconds which her compatriot Zhao Jing swam in a bodysuit in Rome in 2009.</s>JAKARTA, Aug 21 — China’s Liu Xiang set a new world record in the women’s 50 metres backstroke at the Asian Games today.

The 21-year-old clocked a time of 26.98 seconds — the first time a female swimmer has broken 27 seconds for the event — to take gold in Jakarta.

Liu, nicknamed “Swimming Goddess”, finished well ahead of team-mate Fu Yuanhui’s 27.68 and Japan’s Natsumi Sakai in 27.91 on the third evening of competition.

She claims the record held for nine years by fellow Chinese Jing Zhao, who clocked 27.06 at the 2009 world championships in Rome. — AFP</s>China's Liu Xiang has surprised even herself after swimming a world record time to win the women's 50 metres backstroke at the Asian Games, storming home in 26.98 seconds to claim her first major title.

The 21-year-old's time on Tuesday bettered the 27.06 seconds which her compatriot Zhao Jing swam in a bodysuit at the Rome world championships in 2009.

It was the first world record to fall in the Asian Games pool since Japan's Kosuke Kitajima improved the 200m breaststroke mark in Busan in 2002.

"I didn't see the result I only heard the words 'world record', I couldn't believe it!," Liu told reporters at the Jakarta pool.

"It was like a dream. I did not expect to do that! It's not even my favourite event."</s>JAKARTA: China's Liu Xiang set a new world record in the women's 50m backstroke to win Asian Games gold on Tuesday (Aug 21).

The 21-year-old clocked a time of 26.98s - the first time a female swimmer has broken 27s for the event - in Jakarta.

Liu, nicknamed "Swimming Goddess", finished well ahead of team-mate Fu Yuanhui's 27.68 and Japan's Natsumi Sakai in 27.91 on the third evening of competition.

She claims the record held for nine years by fellow Chinese Jing Zhao, who clocked 27.06 at the 2009 world championships in Rome.

Get the widest coverage of the 18th Asian Games (Aug 18 – Sep 2) from Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia on Mediacorp. Go to toggle.sg/AsianGames2018 for details.
Liu Xiang breaks the 50-metre backstroke swimming world record, setting it at 26.98 seconds, to win the women’s gold medal at the Asian Games.