Thursday, 13 December 2018:
 | | MITCH LARKIN of Australia catches his breath after winnning the Men's 100m Backstroke during the 2017 Australian Swimming Championships at the Sleeman Sports Complex in Brisbane, Australia. | |
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Two bronze medals have been added to Australia's tally at the world short course swimming titles in China, but there was no stopping a record breaking United States.
On the second night of the six-day titles in Hangzhou, top qualifier Alex Graham had to settle for third in the men's 200m freestyle final while former junior world champion Minna Atherton grabbed a surprise podium finish in the 100m backstroke.
However, the Americans ruled the pool. They won five of the eight gold medals on offer and set two world records.
Commonwealth Games relay gold medallist Graham appeared the man to beat in the 200m freestyle but was upstaged by American Blake Pieroni's fast start in lane eight with Lithuania's Danas Rapsys nabbing silver.
"It is my first world championship final as an individual so I am stoked to come away with a medal," Graham said.
World champion Emily Seebohm - tackling a tough six individual race program - was sixth in a tight 100m backstroke final as teammate Atherton claimed her first medal at a world championship.
The teenager tied for third with Briton Georgia Davies while American Olivia Smoliga upset world record holder and two-time defending champion, Hungary superstar Katinka Hosszu, to take gold.
For the second night in succession, former dual world champion Mitch Larkin missed a medal by a fingertip.
After being denied 200m individual medley bronze by 0.05 of a second the previous evening, two-time defending champion Larkin again had to settle for fourth - pipped by 0.06 for a podium spot in the 100m backstroke.
Australia's Atherton, Seebohm, Jessica Hansen and Holly Barratt were fifth in the women's 4x50m medley relay won by the US in a world record (1min 42.38sec).
Seebohm, Barratt, Cameron McEvoy and Cameron Jones were sixth in the mixed 4x50m freestyle relay final won by a Caeleb Dressel-inspired US in a world record (1:27.89).
After day two, the US top the medal tally with seven gold and four silver with Australia seventh (one gold, two bronze).
Ahead of day three's finals, Seebohm qualified second fastest in the 200m backstroke and Australia were third quickest for the mixed 4x50m medley relay.
In semi-finals, McEvoy will appear in the 50m freestyle (third fastest), Seebohm in 100m individual medley (fourth), Larkin in the 50m backstroke (12th), Barratt in the 50m butterfly (11th) and Jack Gerard in the men's 100m IM (15th).
