LIVE BLOG: Text Commentary from World Swimming Championships, Rome

Posted: Tuesday 28th July 2009 | 6:49

GLORY FOR GB: Florida-based Brit GEMMA SPOFFORTH wins Britain's first gold in the 100m backstroke final.

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WORLD RECORDS SO FAR: 14 (Women's 100m butterfly, men's 400m freestyle, women's 200m individual medley, women's 400m freestyle, women's 4x100 relay, men's 100m breaststroke, women's 100m butterfly, women's 100m breaststroke, women's 100m backstroke, women's 200m individual medley, men's 200m freestyle, women's 100m backstroke, men's 50m breaststroke, women's 200m freestyle)

LATEST MEDAL TABLE (SWIMMING EVENTS ONLY):

1. USA - 3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze

2. Germany - 2 gold, 2 silver

3. Italy - 2 gold

5. Great Britain - 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze

20:00: See the latest breaking news reports from Sportsbeat's James Toney and Ryan Bangs in Rome

Spofforth wins world title and breaks world record

Phelps accepts defeat but urges action on swimsuits

Jackson faces battle to catch Pellegrini

Rock finally beats Parry's 200m butterfly British record

Tancock just misses medal but shatters British record

19:14: This time that really is it. I'm going home to eat some pasta and play some Mario Kart. See you tomorrow at 08:00 for the morning session or 17:00 for the evening session.

19:12: No rest for the wicked - our guys in Rome have got one last quote before I can wrap things up.

MICHAEL ROCK pays tribute to former Olympic bronze medallist STEVE PARRY after he steals PARRY'S British record and qualifies for the 200m butterfly final.

FLASH QUOTE: "It's a great achievement," said MICHAEL ROCK. "Steve Parry had the world record for five years and was a great swimmer. It's a real thrill and its a great credit to the work I've been doing with Sean Kelly at Stockport Metro."

19:04: So that's it for tonight folks. Thanks for joining me and hopefully I'll see you again tomorrow.

It was a great night for Britain with GEMMA SPOFFORTH winning the 100m backstroke in a world record time.

But the Italian swimmers put on a wonderful show for the home fans in Rome with ALESSIA FILIPPI winning gold in the 1500m freestyle and FEDERICA PELLEGRINI destroying the world record in the 200m freestyle semi finals.

Oh, and some guy called MICHAEL PHELPS had to settle for runner-up ..... twice!

Highlights tomorrow include big names ALAIN BERNARD and RYAN LOCHTE making their first individual appearances in the 100m freestyle and 200m individual medley.

Britain's MICHAEL ROCK and JO JACKSON will also be in action in the finals of the 200m butterfly and 200m freestyle.

19:02: But JO JACKSON, who looks good for another medal after qualifying third fastest for tomorrow night's 200m freestyle final, stays modest after her swim.

FLASH QUOTE: "The 200m is still a new event for me and I really do it to keep sharp for the relay," said JO JACKSON. "I find it hard at the start but I always know I will have the strength to bring it back in the closing stages of the race."

18:59: Britain's CAITLIN McCLATCHEY is adamant she should have made the final of the 200m freestyle in Romeafter missing out by 0.04 seconds.

FLASH QUOTE: "I'm disappointed because I felt I had more in the tank at the end of the race," said CAITLIN MCCLATCHEY.

18:52: REBECCA SONI delivers the goods and swims another sub 1.05 minute time to win.! It's not as good as her world record but still impressive stuff from the 22-year-old.

Russia's YULIYA EFIMOVA pushed SONI all the way but just couldn't compete with the American. EFIMOVA'S result is Russia's third silver of the championships! Always the bridesmaid syndrome for Russia in Rome!

American KASEY CARLSON gets a surprise bronze from lane one to complete a succesful evening for the American team as they jump back to the top of the overall medal table

18:51: So we're on to the final event of the day - the women's 100m breaststroke.

America's REBECCA SONI broke LIESEL JONES' world record in the semi-finals last night and in the absence of the Australian Olympic champion, SONI will be favourite to go one better than her silver in Beijing.

18:49: And MICHAEL ROCK'S record-breaking efforts are good enough to earn him a final berth - the chance to square up against MICHAEL PHELPS. Well done MICHAEL.

18:47: Poland's PAWEL KORZENIOWSKI wins a close heat in 1.53.73 minutes.

MICHAEL ROCK is dragged along and sets a new British record of 1.54.58 minutes - BBC commentator STEVE PARRY, who's record ROCK just broke, must be gutted!

18:42: It's happened again! MICHAEL PHELPS once again finishes second - this time behind Japan's TAKESHI MATSUDA who came home in 1.53.35 minutes.

PHELPS and SEBASTIEN ROUSSEAU should have done enough for the final though.

18:40: Should be a farely routine win this for MICHAEL PHELPS. He is the fastest qualifier in the first semi-final of the 200m butterfly. South Africa's SEBASTIEN ROUSSEAU might be able to hang on to him though.

18:34: Big cheers around the Foro Italico as ALESSI FILIPPI collects her gold medal for the 1500m freestyle. The Italian follows what seems to be a universal trend and bites her medal to pose for photos!

Where did that even come from? Am I right in thinking Spanish tennis player RAFAEL NADAL was the first to do that? Leave a comment if you know (or if it annoys anyone else).

18:31: MICHAEL PHELPS is back up next in the 200m butterfly semi finals. It will be interesting to see how the great man swims after being pipped to gold earlier in the session.

Britain's MICHAEL ROCK is in the second semi final but may need to swim a British record to make the final - but I wouldn't put it past the Stockport Metro swimmer.

18:28: American DANA VOLLMER wins the second semi final with JO JACKSON finishing second in a new British record of 1.55.54 minutes.

CAITLIN McCLATCHEY also goes brilliantly to come fourth but misses out on a place in the final by 0.04 seconds. Things are looking good for the 4x200m relay though.

18:23: The British challenge is in the second semi final. JO JACKSON will be brimming with confidence after her 400m freestyle silver medal on Sunday evening. CAITLIN McCLATCHEY is also in with a chance of a place in the final.

American DANA VOLLMER was the fastest qualifier from the heats though.

18:20: Apparently so! The Italian diva FEDERICA PELLEGRINI wins with a huge world record time of 1.53.67 minutes - she doesn't get pushed off the back pages of the Italian papers without a fight!

18:18: Time for the women's 200m freestyle semi finals. All-star line-up in the first semi with STEPHANIE RICE, FEDERICA PELLEGRINI and INGE DEKKER. Will PELLEGRINI be jealous of the attention her teammate ALESSIA FILIPPI is getting for her gold in the 1500m freestyle?

18:15:Gold for Japan's JUNYA KOGA. The 22-year-old led for the whole of the back 50 to finish in a championship record of 52.26 seconds and win Japan's first medal of the championships.

Germany continue their exceptional form this week with a silver for HELGE MEEUW.

ASCHWIN WILDEBOER gets bronze for Spain. Britain's LIAM TANCOCK swam a great race from lane eight to finish joint fourth in a time of 52.73 seconds.

18:10: Here come the Brits again. Exeter's LIAM TANCOCK is in the final of the 100m backstroke next.

His time of 53.12 seconds in the semi finals meant world record holder AARON PEIRSOL missed out on a place in the final.

Can he upset the odds and get GB's second medal of the evening?

18:08: Looks like double gold medallist and Phelps-slayer PAUL BIEDERMANN isn't finished yet!

FLASH QUOTES: "It's still hard for me to believe that I defeated a legend like Michael," said PAUL BIEDERMANN. "I've won two gold medals and I still have to swim the relay. I've not finished yet."

18:04: Britain's LIZZIE SIMMONDS praises her gold-medal winning teammate GEMMA SPOFFORTH after she finishes seventh in the 100m backstroke final.

FLASH QUOTE: "It's great for Gemma and it felt amazing to have the whole British team out there cheering us on," said LIZZIE SIMMONDS. "It's a fantastic feeling to race in finals at this level, there are not many words to describe how good it feels."

18:00: The crowd erupts as Italy's ALESSIA FILIPPI catches Denmark's LOTTE FRIIS and wins gold. KATE ZIEGLER'S world record looked in danger for a while but FILIPPI tires in the last 100m

FRIIS looks delighted with her silver medal - Denmark's first medal of the championships.

CAMILIA ALINA POTEC wins bronze for Roumania.

17:58: Gold medal winner GEMMA SPOFFORTH is delighted to have won without having to wear an all-polyurethane suit.

FLASH QUOTES: "It feels great to get gold wearing a Speedo suit," said GEMMA SPOFFORTH. "I've said all along that it is the swimmer, not the suit. I don't know what anyone else was wearing and it doesn't matter to me.
"I've worked so hard since Beijing but I never had medals on my mind. I just wanted to take things as they came."

"Amazing scenes in Rome. Rarely can there be a more popular winner than Spofforth. After a lot of hard knocks this is one deserving world champion. PS I'm not talking about my Phelps prediction." - Sportsbeat's James Toney in Rome

17:49: LOTTE FRIIS is looking the best of the bunch so far. She's more than two seconds ahead at the half way point. ALESSIA FILIPPI is a good finisher though.

17:39: It's the women's 1500m freestyle next in Rome. It's not an Olmypic event but it still has a competitive field - Denmark's LOTTE FRIIS trong> will be favourite after qualifiying fastest for this final.

But the home fans will be cheering on ALESSIA FILIPPI for the whole 16 minutes of the race!

17:35: GEMMA SPOFFORTH'S glorious gold in the 100m backstroke is only just sinking in here. SPOFFORTH was agonisingly close to the podium in Beijing but came fourth in the final. She's going to be one of the hot favourites for the 200m back as well.

17:32: Well that was an action packed first half hour! Three world records and a championship record in the first four races. In response to anon's comment (see bottom of page), PAUL BIEDERMANN certainly looks a different man to 12 months ago but he admits himself that is down to hard work and a new swimsuit!

It will be interesting to see how he compares to MICHAEL PHELPS next season when the supersuits are banned! I don't see why he won't still be up there! Disagree? Leave a comment.

17:28: SMASH! There goes another world record. CAMERON VAN DER BURGH responds by setting a new world record of 26.74 seconds in the second 50m breaststroke semi final. Germany's HENDRIK FELDWEHR comes second and Australia's BRENTON RICKARD is safely through to the final after coming third.

17:24: FELIPE FRANCA DA SILVA wins the first semi in a championship record of 26.92 seconds.

South Africa's CAMERON VAN DER BURGH was the only one to go under 27 seconds in the heats and set a new championship record in the process.

He's up in the second semi with recently crowned 100m breast champ, Australia's BRENTON RICKARD.

17:22: Time for the mens 50m breaststroke semi finals. Should be really tight to get through here!

World record holder Brazil's FELIPE FRANCA DA SILVA is in the first semi.

17:17: t; GOLD FOR GREAT BRITAIN! GEMMA SPOFFORTH romps home in a time of 58.12 seconds to grab a glorious victory.

Russia's ANASTASIA ZUEVA led for virtually the whole race but SPOFFORTH reeled her in with ten metres to go. ZUEVA'S time of 58.18 seconds also beats her old world record.

Australia's 17-year-old starlet EMILY SEEBOHM claims the bronze.

17:13: Here we go then! A great chance for Britain to win their first gold of the champs. GEMMA SPOFFORTH faces off against Russia's ANASTASIA ZUEVA for the 100m backstroke title.

ZUEVA set a new world record in the semis but our GEMMA also dipped under the old time and wants to avenge her fourth place in last year's Olympics.

Hull's LIZZIE SIMMONDS has also done well to make the final - should be a good one!

17:10: PAUL BIEDERMANN wins gold and breaks MICHAEL PHELPS' record with a time of 1:42:00 minutes. In truth he was always ahead and won by about a body length in the end!

PHELPS looks bemused at missing out and settling for silver. The Baltimore Bullet is shaking his head as he leaves the pool

Russia's DANILA IZOTOV claims bronze but it was a two horse race!

17:02: So we've got conflicting opinions from our two men in the field! Feel free to leave your own predictions in the comments section at the bottom of the page I'm going for Biedermann in this one. German efficiency wins every time!

"Prediction time. My colleague Ryan Bangs is saying Biedermann will beat Phelps and rewrite his world record. I'm saying trust the champ and the world record will stay." - Sportsbeat's James Toney in Rome

16:59: So first up this evening we've got the men's 200m freestyle - defending champ MICHAEL PHELPS was expected to stroll it but he's qualified only third fastest.

German sensation PAUL BIEDERMANN has already raised more than a few eyebrows by beating IAN THORPE'S world record to win the 400m free.

Can the German cap off a brilliant few days by getting a victory over the Baltimore Bullet?

15:56: We've witnessed ten world record swims in just two days racing so far - that number is bound to rise tonight so we've got a world record counter at the top to keep track!

16:50: Welcome back to live coverage of the Swimming World Championships in Rome. We're in for a cracker of an evening session!

Britain has a great chance of a medal in the 100m backstroke final with GEMMA SPOFFORTH (pictured) and LIZZIE SIMMONDS both making the final.

LIAM TANCOCK has also made the final in the 100m backstroke - at the expense of world record holder, American AARON PEIRSOL.

But first up is Baltimore Bullet MICHAEL PHELPS in the men's 200m freestyle.

10.58: That wraps up this morning's action. Excellent performances from DAVID DAVIES, JO JACKSON, CAITLIN MCCLATCHEY and MICHAEL ROCK - with the latter three all going again this afternoon in their respective semi-finals.

We also have GEMMA SPOFFORTH and ELIZABETH SIMMONDS in the women's 100m backstroke final - with SPOFFORTH going for gold - and LIAM TANCOCK in the men's 100m backstroke final. If that isn't enough MICHAEL PHELPS and PAUL BIEDERMANN go head-to-head in the men's 200m freestyle final.

No world records this morning but with five finals to come, it's set to be a busy afternoon - see you at 5pm UK time!

10.55: Read the latest reports from Sportsbeat's James Toney and Ryan Bangs in Rome.

Gilchrist fails to advance but Jackson and McClatchey progress

Davies smashes British 800m freestyle record

10.45: FLASH QUOTE: "I think I felt a bit worse than I thought I would after swimming in the open water last week," said RICHARD CHARLESWORTH. "The open water was a tough race for me and coming into the pool and competing over a short distance wasn't easy."

10.42: DAVID DAVIES' excellent swim qualifies him for the final as fourth fastest. OUSSAMA MELLOULI looks the stand-out performer but DAVIES will surely be confident of sneaking a medal. RICHARD CHARLESWORTH fails to qualify and finishes 17th overall.

10.37: OUSSAMA MELLOULI lives up to the hype, winning comfortably in 7.41.82. He's the fastest qualifier and suddenly GRANT HACKETT'S world record looks within site - can MELLOULI find three seconds in the final?

10.29: Tunisia's OUSSAMA MELLOULI is up in the final heat. He has dominated long distance swimming in recent years winning 1500m freestyle gold in Beijing ahead of GRANT HACKETT.

10.28: RICHARD CHARLESWORTH is well off the pace in his heat and finishes 8.00.50 - just outside his PB for the man who prefers the open water and it won't be enough to qualify for the final.

FLASH QUOTE: "I probably went out a bit quick but I'm really pleased with how I finished the race," said DAVID DAVIES. "You've got to be happy when you take nearly five seconds off your British record, I just hope it's enough for the final."

10.20: RICHARD CHARLESWORTH is in lane one in the next heat.

10.16: DAVID DAVIES finishes second in 7.45.89 and smashes his British record and PB by five seconds in the process. FEDERICO COLBERTALDO gives the home crowd something to cheer, winning with a new European record of 7.44.29.

10.13: GRANT HACKETT'S world record from 2005 of 7.38.65 is the second longest standing in swimming - across both men and women. Will we see it fall at these championships? The Australian - who won ten world championships golds - also holds the longest standing world record - 14.34.56 in the 1500m, set in Japan in 2001.

10.10: We're into the seeded heats and DAVID DAVIES is off. He has gone out hard and is leading through 400m. There are no semi-finals in the 800m freestyle and he's not taking any chances.

10.01: DAVID DAVIES won 1500m bronze in 2005 and 2007 but is not as comfortable at this shorter distance. The Welshman is more comfortable in the open water and won 10km silver in Beijing.

FLASH QUOTE: "It was a solid performance - I would have liked to have gone quicker," said CAITLIN MCCLATCHEY, after touching down in 1.57.44, nearly half a second down on her personal best. "I was aiming to go under 1.57 and I thought I was capable of doing that."

"The public address announcer here has an unhealthy obsession with Miley Cyrus. I suppose it's better than having an unhealthy obsession with Hannah Miley." - Sportsbeat's James Toney in Rome

09.43: The final event of this morning's session is the men's 800m freestyle heats. Brits DAVID DAVIES and RICHARD CHARLESWORTH go in heats four and five respectively.

09.41: American's DANA VOLLMER and ALLISON SCHMITT are the fastest qualifiers in 1.55.98 and 1.56.75 respectively. FEDERICA PELLEGRINI was sixth quickest but looked very comfortable.

09.39: JO JACKSON and CAITLIN MCCLATHCEY are both safely to the semi-finals in third and ninth respectively.

09.36: FEDERICA PELLEGRINI just goes through the motions to finish second behind America's ALLISON SCHMITT. It's tight at the top of the women's 200m freestyle event - we're set for some great racing this afternoon.

09.32: CAITLIN MCCLATCHEY finishes sixth in 1.57.44. That should be enough to qualify and she'll be hoping to make the final as well. All eyes on FEDERICA PELLEGRINI now.

09.26: Olympic bronze medallist JO JACKSON puts in a fantastic swim to win her heat in 1.56.81 - just outside her personal best and British record of 1.56.47. She'll be looking to improve on that in this afternoon's semi-final. CAITLIN MCCLATCHEY ;is up next.

09.22: We're yet to see a sub-2 minute swim this morning but that is set to change.

09.17: We're up to heat five. Taipei's SHENG-YO TING is the youngest competitor in this 200m freestyle field - just 14 years old. We're into the quicker heats - hold on to your hats!

“Michael Rock believes he’s in the shape to beat Steve Parry’s five-year old British record in tonight’s 200m butterfly semi-finals.” – Sportsbeat’s James Toney in Rome

09.12: 400m freestyle silver medallist JO JACKSON goes in heat eight with CAITLIN MCCLATCHEY in heat nine. Home favourite FEDERICA PELLEGRINI goes in heat ten.

“David Davies has already got his career mapped out when swimming finishes. He wants to join the Police.” – Sportsbeat’s Ryan Bangs in Rome

09.02: It's the women's 200m freestyle heats up next - ten heats in this one.

09.00: MICHAEL ROCK is fourth in his heat in 1.55.76 and qualified ninth fastest - a good swim from him before this afternoon's semi-finals. MICHAEL PHELPS edges out Brazil's KAIO ALMEIDA to win the heat.

08.58: It's the final heat now with MICHAEL ROCK in lane six - he'll be looking to challenge STEVE PARRY'S record. World record holder MICHAEL PHELPS is in lane four.

08.55: ROEBUCK is off the pace in his heat but his time of 1.57.44 is a PB.

08.53: JOSEPH ROEBUCK is up now in heat six. The British record for the men's 200m butterfly is 1.55.22 by STEVE PARRY.

FLASH QUOTE: "It was almost half a second inside my personal best and that is quite pleasing looking ahead to the 200m," said KRIS GILCHRIST.

08.40: Now it's the turn of the men's 200m butterfly heats. JOSEPH ROEBUCK goes in heat six, with MICHAEL ROCK going in heat eight - the final heat.

FLASH QUOTE: KRIS GILCHRIST moved to Paris after last year's Olympics to follow former City of Edinburgh coach Fred Vergnoux.
"Fred's philosophy is different to other swimming coaches," he said. "It has taken me a year before I started to see vast improvements. One thing he does is place land training equal to swimming work, rather than only a compliment to it."

08.34: That's it for the men's 50m breaststroke and there'll be no more British interest in this event with JAMES GIBSON and KRIS GILCHRIST failing to qualify.

08.30: South Africa's CAMERON VAN DER BURGH accepted MURHPY'S challenge - smashing his championship record set only minutes earlier with a swim of 26.92 seconds. Murphy's time looks decidely pedestrian now with seven swimmer dipping under it.

08.25: JAMES GIBSON takes second in his heat in 27.78 and he'll now be sweating on a place in the semi-finals. The strength of depth in this event is outstanding.

08.23: Ireland's BARRY MURPHY has thrown the gauntlet down in heat 12. He finished first in 27.26 - a championship record.

08.20: KRIS GILCHRIST went out hard in his heat and lead until the last stroke. He finished second in 28.07 seconds - that might not be enough to qualify but his stronger event is the 200m.

08.10: It's a hectic start to the day with 17 heats in the men's 50m breaststroke - they're rattling through the heats with KRIS GILCHRIST in heat 11.

07.25: Sportsbeat's James Toney's take on the swim suit row, written earlier this year - Hi-tech swimsuits have no place in the pool and this from Chris Cottrell - The hi-tech swimsuit saga - from beginning to end (nearly)

07.20: Sportsbeat reporters in action at the Foro Italico

07.16: Brit watch this morning, eight are in action. 50m breaststroke - KRIS GILCHRIST (heat 11), JAMES GIBSON (heat 13); 200m butterfly - JOE ROEBUCK (heat 6), MICHAEL ROCK (heat 8); 200m freestyle - JO JACKSON (heat 8), CAITLIN MCCLATCHEY (heat 9); 800m freestyle - DAVID DAVIES (heat 4), RICHARD CHARLESWORTH (heat 5)

Bonjourno, and welcome back to Rome for day three of the World Swimming Championships at the sun-baked Foro Italico.

Michael Phelps is the big story tonight – facing off against Germany’s Paul Biedermann in the men’s 200m freestyle final while Britain’s Gemma Spofforth goes for gold in the women’s 100m backstroke.

After so many world records, how about some new rules? How about cossies made of lead, as opposed to polyurethane or Shanghai, the 2011 hosts, could add a wave machine to their competition pool.

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Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 07/28/2009 - 20:17.

Hi, anon again. Armchair punditry I know but as I see it... His improvement in the space of 11 months is too much. Some factors that could go some way to explaining the change: Use of swim hat. Beijing was swam with exposed shock of hair. Also he swam in Beijing with leggings, and is now using a fully bodysuit. Also I belive he swam in Beijing with a non-teflon coated set of leggings; the use of the x-glide could also go some way to explaining the amelioration in placing and timings.

These do not for me explain how an athlete on the verge of turning 23 goes from 1:46.59 in Eindhoven to 1:42.00 16 months later in Rome. His physique has changed dramatically too. The Biedermann who lined up in Beijing was a significantly smaller man than the mammal that mounted the lane rope to celebrate his 400 free victory.

His catch and pull underwater in the last 50 of the 200 were so so powerful. There is a 5 second sequence where you can see both him and Phelps stroking side by side. Phelps looks like he is pulling half as fast.

Just my opinions, no facts, nothing to substantiate my claims.