Phelps earns surprise sixth gold

Michael Phelps won his sixth gold medal at the World Championships with victory in the 100 metres butterfly today.

The 22-year-old American beat world record holder and race favourite Ian Crocker into second place, his team-mate finishing 0.05 seconds behind Phelps’ 50.77secs.

“That’s how I won the Olympic medal. You have to nail the finish,” Phelps said. “I got my hand on the wall after taking the race out after 50m.”

Australia’s women set a new world record in the 4x100m relay, finishing in three minutes, 55.74 seconds to beat their own previous best of 3:56.30 set last year.

A British quartet of Melanie Marshall, Kirsty Balfour, Terri Dunning and Fran Halsall finished just outside the podium places – 0.21 seconds behind bronze-medallists China.

Earlier, Commonwealth champion David Davies qualified quickest for the final of the 1500m despite the much-heralded return of four-time winner Grant Hackett.

The Welshman swam an impressive 14:53.57, over two-and-a-half seconds faster than the next best Larsen Jensen. The American won his heat in 14:56.28.

Australia’s Hackett – who missed the chance to race Davies in last year’s Commonwealths, also in Melbourne – was almost 25 seconds off his world record as he made the final in 14:59.24.

Liam Tancock, bronze medallist in the 100m backstroke, could be in line to add a medal from the 50m backstroke after qualifying quickest from his semi-final.

Britain’s Kate Heywood made it through to the final of the 50m breaststroke as the slowest in her semi-final.

There was also disappointment for Halsall, who was eliminated from the 50m freestyle after finishing 11th in her semi-final.