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Atkinson Breaks 50m Breaststroke World Record on Second Day of FINA World Cup in Tokyo
Jamaica's Alia Atkinson broke the 50 metre breaststroke shortcourse world record on the second and final day of the International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Cup leg in Tokyo. Photo: andralemarie.com
Jamaica's Alia Atkinson broke the 50 meter breaststroke short course world record on the second and final day of the International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Cup leg in Tokyo.
The Jamaican, a world champion over the 100m distance in 2014, clocked a time of 28.64 seconds to shave 16 hundredths of a second off the former record posted by United States' Jessica Hardy in 2009.
She finished comfortably ahead of Russia's Yuliya Efimova, in 29.19, and another American in Molly Hannis, who managed 29.57.
Atkinson is one of just three women to have broken the 29 second barrier for the sprint distance after Hardy and Lithuania's Rūta Meilutytė.
The four-time Olympian also claimed victory over the 100m distance in 1:02.91.
Japanese teenager Rikako Ikee also added two more world records to the 100m butterfly one she managed yesterday at the Tatsumi International Swimming Center – along with two second-placed finishers.
She touched second in the 50m butterfly in 25.73 to beat all but Danish winner Jeanette Ottesen, who managed 25.05.
The 16-year-old, who was barely two months old when Michael Phelps competed at his first Olympic Games in Sydney, then posted a 58.24 to take second behind Katinka Hosszu's 57.47 in the 100m individual medley.
Hungary's Hosszu still holds a mammoth overall lead ahead of this weekend's World Cup series finale in Hong Kong.
She lies on 1,059 points, more than double Atkinson's second-placed haul of 417.
Ottesen lies third on 399.
Vladimir Morizov of Russia leads the men's standings with 583 points.
South Africa's Chad le Clos lies second on 462, with Daiya Seto of Japan third, with 282.
By Nick Butler
Alia Atkinson
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