ABU DHABI: Canada’s Maggie MacNeil set a short course world record in the women’s 50m backstroke to win gold at the World Championships in Abu Dhabi.
MacNeil, who won 100m butterfly gold at the Tokyo Olympics, clocked 25.27s to shave 0.33 seconds off Kira Toussaint’s mark yesterday.
“If you would have told me my first world record would be backstroke, I wouldn’t have believed you,” MacNeil said.
“But it’s nice to get that out of way and hopefully tomorrow I also have something in the 100m fly as well.”
Fellow Canadian Kylie Masse took silver, while Sweden’s Louise Hansson bagged bronze.