Mitch Larkin claimed men’s 100m backstroke gold at the world swimming championships in Russia. It marked Australia’s second win on day three of the titles in Kazan after Emily Seebohm led a quinella in the women’s 100m backstroke final.
Top qualifier Larkin clocked 52.40 seconds ahead of France’s Camille Lacourt (52.48) and defending champion Matt Grevers (52.66) of the US. Larkin, 22, has become just the third person in history to hold both the short and long course world 100m backstroke titles.
Earlier, Seebohm finally claimed her maiden individual gold at her fifth world titles by clocking 58.26 seconds ahead of team-mate Madison Wilson (58.75). Denmark’s Mie Oe Nielsen (58.86) took bronze.
Seebohm’s nemesis, defending world and Olympic champion Missy Franklin of the US, finished fifth more than second behind the Australian winner.
It marked the London Olympic silver medallist’s first individual world titles gold for Seebohm who made her debut way back in 2007.
Australia’s third fastest qualifier Cameron McEvoy (one minute, 47.26 seconds) bombed in the 200m freestyle final, finishing last behind gold medalist James Guy of Britain (1:45.14).
