Barcelona, July 22: Matthew Welsh was just using the 50-meter butterfly race as a warmup for his backstroke event. He ended up breaking the world record and winning a gold medal. Welsh was one of three swimmers to set world marks yesterday at the world championships.
Fellow Australian Leisel Jones established a record in the Women`s 100 breaststroke semifinals and Japan`s Kosuke Kitajima set a new standard in winning the men`s 100 breaststroke gold medal.

In yesterday`s other medal events, American veteran Jenny Thompson won gold in the 100 butterfly and Yana Klochkova of the Ukraine won gold in the 200 individual medley.
Five more medals will be handed out in the competition later today.

Welsh covered his single swim down the pool in 23.43 seconds, beating the old record of 23.44 set by fellow Australian Geoff Huegill at the last worlds in Fukuoka, Japan. Afterward, welsh looked over at Huegill, who finished fourth a few lanes down, with his arms wide apart in apparent disbelief.
"I had no pressure in that race being a backstroker," welsh said, adding that he tacked on the 50 fly because it fit in well to his programme.
Bureau Report