Xu Jiayu set a new 100m backstroke world record during the penultimate leg of the 2018 FINA Swimming World Cup in Tokyo at the weekend.

The Chinese swimmer touched the wall in 48.88 to smash the record of 48.90 held by Kliment Kolesnikov since December 2017.

It was one of three backstroke gold medals in Japan for Xu, who also won the 50m in 22.87 and the 200m in 1:48.32, but he narrowly missed out on being the best men’s performer at the Tokyo meet.

That honour went to series leader Vladimir Morozov, who equalled his own 100m IM world record of 50.26 set earlier in the World Cup at Eindhoven.

Morozov also claimed victory in the 50m and 100m as well as the 50m fly to extend his dominant lead at the top of the overall men’s standings.

Sarah Sjöström still leads the women’s standings with one round to go, but is facing a strong challenge from Katinka Hosszu.

Hungary’s Hosszu was the most decorated swimmer in Tokyo with four gold medals, winning the 200m fly as well as a clean sweep of the individual medley races.

Sjöström won the 50m freestyle, and has a 15-point lead going into the final leg of the World Cup in Singapore this weekend.

Dutch duo Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Femke Heemskerk each won two golds, as did Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson.

Kirill Prigoda also claimed a double in the 100m and 200m breaststroke, and is second in the overall standings behind his fellow Russian Morozov.

2018 FINA Swimming World Cup #6 Results

MEN
1. Vladimir Morozov (Russia) 1002 FINA points
2. Xu Jiayu (China) 1001 pts
3. Kirill Prigoda (Russia) 987 pts

WOMEN
1. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (Netherlands) 984 pts
2. Sarah Sjöström (Sweden) 975 pts
3. Katinka Hosszu (Hungary) 971 pts

EVENT WINNERS
50m free: Men – Vladimir Morozov (RUS) 20.49 WC; Women – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 23.26
100m free: Men – Vladimir Morozov (RUS) 45.16; Women – Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) 51.26
200m free: Men – Kyle Chalmers (AUS) 1:41.83; Women – Femke Heemskerk (NED) 1:51.91
400m free: Men – Mack Horton (AUS) 3:40.58; Women – Femke Heemskerk (NED) 4:01.29
800m free: Women – Mayuko Gotou (CLB, JPN) 8:19.74
1500m free: Men – Mykhailo Romanchuk (UKR) 14:27.93
50m back: Men – Xu Jiayu (CHN) 22.87; Women – Kira Toussaint (NED) 26.21
100m back: Men – Xu Jiayu (CHN) 48.88 WR; Women – Minna Atherton (AUS) 56.04
200m back: Men – Xu Jiayu (CHN) 1:48.32; Women – Emily Seebohm (AUS) 2:01.13
50m breast: Men – Peter Stevens (SLO) 26.03; Women – Alia Atkinson (JAM) 28.95
100m breast: Men -Kirill Prigoda (RUS) 56.58; Women – Alia Atkinson (JAM) 1:03.09
200m breast: Men – Kirill Prigoda (RUS) 2:01.30; Women – Yuliya Efimova (RUS) 2:16.29
50m fly: Men – Vladimir Morozov (RUS) 22.29; Women – Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) 24.51
100m fly: Men – Takeshi Kawamoto (JPN) 50.28; Women – Rikako Ikee (CLB, JPN) 55.31
200m fly: Men – Li Zhuhao (CHN) 1:50.92; Women – Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 2:03.01
100m IM: Men – Vladimir Morozov (RUS) 50.26 = WR; Women – Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 57.25
200m IM: Men – Wang Shun (CHN) 1:51.45; Women – Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 2:04.65
400m IM: Men – Kosuke Hagino (CLB, JPN) 4:01.93; Women – Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 4:21.91
4x50m free mixed: NUHW Club (JPN) 1:31.72
4x50m medley mixed: Australia 1:39.74

2018 FINA Swimming World Cup Standings (after Tokyo)

MEN
1. Vladimir Morozov (Russia) 342 pts
2. Kirill Progoda (Russia) 213 pts
3. Mitch Larkin (Australia) 183 pts

WOMEN
1. Sarah Sjöström (Sweden) 285pts
2. Katinka Hosszu (Hungary) 270pts
3. Yulia Efimova (Russia) 234pts

2018 FINA Swimming World Cup Calendar

Cluster 1 (50m pool)
1. Kazan (RUS) – September 7-9
2. Doha (QAT) – September 13-15

Cluster 2 (25m pool)
3. Eindhoven (NED) – September 28-30
4. Budapest (HUN) – October 4-6

Cluster 3 (25m pool)
5. Beijing (CHN) – November 2-4
6. Tokyo (JPN) – November 9-11
7. Singapore (SGP) – November 15-17

Photo courtesy of FINA press release