Swimswam / Braden Keith coverage of the 50 backstroke at the 2013 FINA World Championships:
The three medal positions in the women’s 50 backstroke were taken by Asian athletes. World record holder Zhao Jing won the event in a season’s best time of 27.29, beating her previous best of 27.81. Zhao, who finished sixth in the 100 backstroke in London, did not compete in the 100 in Barcelona, making this her first event of the meet.
Zhao’s teammate Fu Yuanhui finished second in a time of 27.39, being caught by her teammate despite bringing in a huge edge out of the semi-finals. This came up shy of her season’s best of 27.22 that she posted at the Chinese Nationals. In the 100 backstroke earlier in the meet, Fu showed her 50 speed by turning second behind only Missy Franklin (en route to a 5th-place finish).
Aya Terakawa of Japan collected the bronze finishing in a time of 27.53. The bronze medal position is one that Terakawa is familar with after finishing third at both the London Olympics and earlier in the competition in Barcelona in the 100.
Brazilian Etiene Medeiros finished fourth in a time of 27.83. Medeiros was not far off the Brazilian record (just about a tenth) of 27.70, which was set by Fabiola Molina in 2009. The Brazilian has made great strides in 2013 coming into the year, knocking almost a full second off of her previous best.
European champion Mercedes Peris Minguet finished fifth in a time of 27.93. Peris Minguet wasn’t able to match her Spanish Record of 27.71 from the semifinals. Georgia Davies of Great Britain finished sixth tying her lifetime best time of 27.96.
American Rachel Bootsma finished seventh in a time of 28.05 while Lauren Quigley finished eighth in her first international final in a time of 28.33.