FINA WC 2019 Gwangju – Day Six – Queens of speed battle it out to make the podium in Gwangju

Cate Campbell and Sarah Sjostrom took silver and bronze in the 100m freestyle as the queens of speed collided at the World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.

Sjostrom was ahead of the Australian at the halfway point of the blue riband event but Campbell swam the fastest second 50 of the entire field to overhaul her friend and rival and touch in 52.43secs.

Sjostrom was just behind her in 52.46.

Campbell was delighted with her effort in her first global final since the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

She said: “I was locked in a battle with Sarah but I think this is a great stepping stone for me. It shows I can mix it up with the best in the world. I got the best of Simone (Manuel, the winner) a couple of nights ago and last year and I look forward to racing her again next year.

“While I am not 100% happy with that race I think that I have shown some great improvements over the last couple of years.

“I think it will be great for me going into Tokyo without a huge target on my back. I think I’ve well and truly shifted the focus away from that now so it’s great to be back and great to be mixing it with the best in the world.”

Ryosuke Irie was fifth in the men’s 200m backstroke final in 1:56.52.

Bruno Fratus was second into the 50m freestyle final while Kristof Milak, who set a new world record in the 200m butterfly, was third fastest into the 100m fly final, one place ahead of Chad Le Clos.

Sarah Sjostrom and Ranomi Kromowidjojo were the two fastest into the final of the 50m butterfly while Margherita Panziera was third into Saturday’s 200m backstroke final with Katinka Hosszu fifth.