Katinka Hosszu added the 200m butterfly bronze to her 200 individual medley title in front of a raucous home crowd at the World Championships in Budapest.
While the Hungarian fans were urging Katinka home to another medal, Emily Seebohm of Australia came fourth in the 50m backstroke in a new Oceania record and Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden was fastest through in to the 100m freestyle final, days after she set a new world record over two lengths.
Katinka won the 200m individual medley on the first night at the Duna Arena and on Thursday she was back for the gruelling 200 fly.
The 28-year-old was in the lead at halfway but was overhauled on the second half of the race, finishing in third in 2mins 06.02secs, eight years after her first World Championship medals in Rome in 2009.
Katinka, who returned soon after to anchor the Hungarian 4x200m freestyle squad to sixth, was thrilled with her performance.
She said: “I’m absolutely satisfied with the bronze medal. It was a really good competition. The time was encouraging. It was an unbelievable feeling to swim a final in front of such an audience.”
Emily was just touched out in the 50m backstroke although she set a new Oceania mark of 27.37 a day after she signalled a return to the form that saw her win double individual gold in Kazan, Russia, two years ago with bronze in the 100m backstroke.
Sarah became a true pioneer of the sport when she set a new world record of 51.71 in the 100m freestyle, when she was the first woman to crack 52secs as lead-off for the Sweden women’s 4x100m freestyle squad on Sunday, the first night of action.
On Thursday Sarah was in pole position as she headed the semi-finals in 52.44, claiming she had some left in the tank as she looks to go under 52 seconds once more.
“I had two days off so today was just about getting into the racing again. And I felt really good. I have a few more tenths to go down to match my time I did on the first day but I will be more than happy with a time under 52 seconds tomorrow. I am sure it will be easier tomorrow when I am back in to the racing feeling.”
Bronte Campbell of Australia was fifth fastest through in 53.04, two places ahead of Ranomi Kromowidjojo who made it through to the final in 53.09.
Ranomi has enjoyed a fine season with a Mare Nostrum tour where she has consistently made the podium.
She explained the reason for her good form, saying: “I think I have changed some things compared with last season.
“I always work on my technique and we changed some little details on my freestyle technique, I changed a little bit the strength and conditioning training – it’s not so much about heavy weights, but in stability – the core, hips, knees and ankles instead of just pushing a lot of weights.
“Nothing really big, more details and just changed a little bit because I think if you always do the same you will always get the same results so this season about changing a little bit and try something new and then you see if it works out – and I think it works out.”