Rome: American Rebecca Soni came within a whisker of her own world record to seize the gold medal in the women`s 100 metres breaststroke at the world championships.
Soni, the 200m breaststroke Olympic champion, won the world title in one minute 04.93 seconds, just 0.09 off the mark she set in the semi-finals.
Australia`s Sarah Katsoulis set the early pace, but the American held her nerve and came through with a surge in the final 50m.
Russia`s Yuliya Efimova was second, while Soni`s compatriot Kasey Carlson edged out Katsoulis to grab bronze.
Australia`s Leisel Jones, the Olympic and 2007 world champion in the 100 breaststroke, was not competing.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 10:11
