Women’s 100 backstroke race footage is courtesy of swimswam partner Universal Sports Network.
Swimswam coverage of the 100 backstroke final at the 2013 FINA World Championships:
Before the events began Australian Cate Campbell was asked if this race felt like revenge after missing the 2012 individual event at the Olympics due to illness, she corrected the interviewer, not revenge, motivation.
Campbell was motivated indeed going out in a time of 24.85, 61 one-hundredths of a second ahead of Britta Steffen’s 2009 world record. Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden made a push in the last 15 meters when Campbell began to tie up, but did not have enough to catch the Australian who won the event in a time of 52.34.
Campbell who came into the world championships as the world’s top ranked swimmer set herself up well for a great individual event after leading the Australian 4 x 100 freestyle relay off in a time of 52.33 earlier in the competition.
Sjostrom was expected to be a threat in the last 50 meters after swimming a 26.99 in the second half of her swim yesterday’s semi-final. She was just that again recording a 27.33, the fastest second 50 in the field once again.
Sjostrom finished second in a time of 52.89.
Olympic champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands and American Missy Franklin battled the entire race. Kromowidjojo was ahead of Franklin at the 50 by one one-hundredth of a second and at the finish Kromowidjojo collected the bronze in a time of 53.42 just ahead of Franklin who finished fourth in a time of 53.47.
Kromowidjojo finished in the same spot she did at the 2011 World Championships.
Femke Heemskerk of the Netherlands finished fifth in a season’s best time of 53.67.
World record holder Britta Steffen of Germany finished sixth in a time of 53.75.
Yi Tang of China, the Olympic bronze medalist finished seventh in a time of 54.09 while AmericanShannon Vreeland finished eighth in a time of 54.49.