DOHA, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Three world records were produced at the first day of Doha Short-Course Swimming World Championships on Wednesday, while China took a silver in the women's 4X200m freestyle relay, according to FINA.
Spainish swimming star Mireia Belmonte won the women's 200-meter butterfly and 400m medley in outstanding WRs of one minute 59.61 and 4:19.86 repectively. She defeated Hungary's Katinka Hosszu in both occasions.
"It's like a dream," said Belmonte. "I didn't expect to break the WR. I will train hard to prepare for the Rio Games."
"It's good to have Mireia Belmonte here. Losing to her gives me extra motivation," said Hosszu, silver medallist in the women's 200m fly and 400m IM.
Belmonte broke China's Beijing Olympic champion Liu Zige's world record in the 200m fly and became the first female swimmer ever under the two-minute mark in the event.
Hosszu took silver in 2:01.12, and the bronze went to Franziska Hentke of Germany in 2:03.89. China's Zhang Yufei finished fourth. The previous WR holder Liu failed to qualify for the final.
"I had expected to win a medal here," said Zhang, only 16. "But I was 0.2 second slower in the final than my heat in the morning. I still have so much to learn."
In the women's 4X200m free relay, the Netherlands established the new WR 7:32.85 to win the gold. China took second in a distant 7:37.02, while the bronze went to Australia 7:38.59.
South African Olympic champ Chad Le Clos won the men's 200m free in 1:41.45, while Russia's Danila Izotov was second in 1:41.67. American star swimmer Ryan Lochte finished third in 1:42.09.
"It couldn't start any better," said Le Clos. "I was really happy to get the win tonight. To get the first medal on the board, the 200m is not my strongest event so I can only get better from here."
The men's 100m free relay title was claimed by France in 3:03.78, while Russia and the United States came second and third respectively.