Johansson wins women's 50 m breaststroke world gold

Sweden's Jennie Johansson was the shock winner of the women's 50m breaststroke gold at the world swimming championships on Sunday.

Johansson clocked 30.05 to win on the wall as Jamaica's Alia Atkinson claimed silver at just 0.06sec back while Russia's Yuliya Efimova, the 100m champion, earned bronze at 0.08.

Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania, the reigning Olympic 100m champion, finished fourth at 0.09 as just 0.15secs separated the first five swimmers.

This is the 27-year-old Johannsson's first world or Olympic title having won silver for the 50 and 100m breaststroke at last year's European championships in Berlin.

"It's the biggest surprise for everyone, it was hard to compete with such strong girls," said Johansson.

"I was the best one today, and I still can't believe it's true."

Atkinson, 26, who swims for Texas AM University in the United States, was delighted with her second medal in Kazan having taken bronze in the 100m final behind Efimova and Meilutyte.

"It's fantastic," said Atkinson. "The last two worlds, I've got ninth in both events, so to come back and medal in both shows how much I am improving."

With the world athletics championships staring in Beijing on August 22, when compatriot and sprint star Usain Bolt will be in action, Atkinson said she was getting column inches back in Jamaica as she tastes success over 50m.

"They are all getting ready for the track and field, but some of the headlines are going my way," she said.

"It's a real confidence booster because I've always been successful in short course, but not long course."
Source: AFP