3 Aug 2013

Boyle aiming for 3 medals at World Champs

9:16 am on 3 August 2013

Auckland swimmer Lauren Boyle has qualified second fastest in heats of the 800 metres freestyle at the FINA World Championships in Barcelona.

Boyle broke her Oceania and New Zealand records in the process, shaving nearly two seconds off the national mark she set at the London Olympics as she finished .35 of a second behind American star Katie Ledecky.

Boyle is gunning for a third medal at the world champs in her favoured event, having already won bronze medals in the 400 freestyle and the 1500 freestyle.

The final of the 800 is on Sunday.

Elsewhere at the world champs, American Ryan Lochte won the third 200 metres backstroke gold of his career, then joined his team to win the men's 4 x 200 freestyle relay final.

Australian Cate Campbell won the women's 100 freestyle final, ending American prodigy Missy Franklin's hopes of equalling compatriot Michael Phelps' seven gold medals at one world championships. Franklin, who's won four medals so far, was fourth.

Campbell's victory means Australia simultaneously holds the men's and women's 100 freestyle world titles for the first time, after James Magnussen also triumphed.