After winning the 200m, Chad Le Clos (RSA) was even stronger in the 100m fly, establishing the second World Record of these Championships.

The South African star touched home in 48.08, improving his own mark of 48.44 set two years ago in Doha (QAT). Le Clos also managed to triumph for the third consecutive time in this event, after his victories in 2014 (48.44) and 2012 (48.82). Before him, only Lars Frölander, from Sweden, had made the treble in 1997, 1999 and 2000. Curiously, the silver medal went also for the third time in a row for Tom Shields from the USA in 49.04 – in 2014, he had clocked 48.99, while in 2012 he was slower in 49.54. The bronze in Windsor went to Australian David Morgan in 49.31.

Without surprise, Katinka Hosszu (HUN), WR holder in the event and 2014 champion in Doha (QAT), won the final of the women’s 200m back in 2:00.79. The Magyar star had perfect control of the race and easily overcame her main opponents: Ukraine’s Daryna Zevina (silver, 2:02.24), the winner in 2012, and Australia’s Emily Seebohm (bronze in 2:02.65), second two years ago in the Qatari capital. It was the fourth gold medal in these Championships for Hosszu, after her previous wins in the 100m back, 200m fly and 400m IM.

1500m Olympic and World champion Gregorio Paltrinieri of Italy currently in Windsor, Canada, to race his pet event on Sunday December 11, appeared at an Arena Meet&Greet yesterday where dozens of kids asked for selfies and autographs.

Paltrinieri happily played the game together with his compatriot Gabriele Detti in front of the Arena shop at the market place around the WFCU Centre transformed for the occasion.

“I remember when I was a kid and really wanted to take a picture with someone I admired, looked up at, so it is great to be in this position right now. I want to give them what I have received and also tell them a bit about me and how I built this career.”

Asked about his endurance preparation Paltrinieri, 22, said: “I train a lot, since a very long time. I move from my city to Rome when I was 16 to start preparing for Rio. It was amazing to compete in Rio, it was my dream since I was child. It is almost impossible to describe what I felt when I won.”

Keeping his gold medal objective in mind, he admitted: “I started my preparation for this championship a bit later than I usually would. I am just here to have fun and compete with great athletes. Of course, I want the gold but I don’t want to put pressure on myself. I will do my best and have fun.”

The home crowd was expecting the first Canadian title of the competition for Penny Oleksiak, swimming in lane 5 of the women’s 100m free final. The Olympic winner in this distance seemed to be in a good position to get the good after the 50m turn (second), but had to content in the end for bronze, in a time of 52.01. The gold went to Australia’s Brittany Elmslie, also the fastest of the semis, in a winning time of 51.81. Dutch Ranomi Kromowidjojo earned silver in 51.92. The 26-year-old star from the Netherlands was the winner in 2010 and bronze medallist in 2014. Other notable Dutch swimmers in the history of this event include Marleen Veldhuis (gold in 2008) and Femke Heemskerk (world title in 2014).