16-Year-Old Sets World Record in 100-Meter Breaststroke

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Sixteen-year-old Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania has set the first world record of the world swimming championships.

In the semifinals of the 100-meter breaststroke, no less. Meilutyte, who trains in in Britain, nearly broke the mark Monday during the morning preliminaries. She returned in the evening to go even faster. The youngster touched in 1 minute, 4.35 seconds, beating the mark set by American Jessica Hardy in 2009 at the end of the rubberized suit era.

In the first two finals of the night, Australia's Christian Sprenger won the men's 100 breast, while Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom knocked off American world-record holder Dana Vollmer in the 100 butterfly. Vollmer settled for the bronze medal behind Sjostrom and Australia's Alicia Coutts.