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Rediff.com  » Sports » Swim's sensation Ruta Meilutyte bids to create more history
This article was first published 11 years ago

Swim's sensation Ruta Meilutyte bids to create more history

July 30, 2013 12:20 IST

Image: Lithuania's Ruta Meilutyte gestures after winning the women's 100m breaststroke semi-final with a new world record
Photographs: Albert Gea/Reuters

Lithuanian teenager Ruta Meilutyte shot to fame during the second day of action at the world swimming championships in Barcelona's hilltop Palau Sant Jordi on Monday will look to create more history on Tuesday.

-16-year-old from Lithuania powers to breaststroke record at Worlds

The Plymouth-based 16-year-old shattered the 100m breaststroke world record.

Meilutyte shattered the 100m breaststroke world record

Image: Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania celebrates
Photographs: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Following up on her Olympic title in London last year, Meilutyte scorched to a time of one minute 04.35 seconds in the semi-finals of the 100 metres breaststroke, shaving a tenth off the previous record of 1:04.45 set by American Jessica Hardy in 2009.

Meilutyte will seek to win Lithuania's first ever World Championships gold medal

Image: Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania
Photographs: Michael Dalder/Reuters

Meilutyte, who trains in England will seek to win Lithuania's first ever World Championships gold medal in Tuesday's final.

Improving on Hardy's time had been "one of her dreams" and was more important than winning Tuesday's final but a gold would nonetheless be the "cherry on the cake", Meilutyte said.

'I'll give it my best shot'

Image: Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania
Photographs: Tony Marshall/Getty Images

"I'll have a relaxing day tomorrow and save all my energy for the final," she added. "My biggest aim is accomplished now and I'll give it my best shot."

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