27 Jul 2009

NZ swimmer makes semi-final

6:07 am on 27 July 2009

The New Zealand swimmer Corney Swanepoel has missed out on the final of the 50m butterfly at the World Championships in Rome.

Swanepoel was 13th fastest in qualifying for the semi-finals.

Daniel Bell matched his personal best in the same event but was 3/10ths of a second outside the final qualifying spot for the semifinals.

Butterfly specialist Moss Burmester failed to make the finals of the 400 freestyle and Glenn Snyders failed to progress in the 100 breaststroke.

There have been 5 world records on the first night of finals, while American star Michael Phelps won his first gold medal as a part of the 100 freestyle relay team.