American Michael Phelps won a record-equalling sixth gold medal at the world swimming championships with a dramatic victory in the 100m butterfly final last night.
Phelps beat his American team-mate Ian Crocker in a frantic finish in a time of 50.77s, the third fastest in history and just
0.37s outside Crocker's world record of 50.40s.
Crocker, who led for most of the race before being beaten on the touch to the wall, took the silver in 50.82s after winning the title at the past two championships. Albert Subirats, of Venezuela, was third in 51.82s.
Phelps' victory provided the 21-year-old with his sixth gold medal in Melbourne, matching Ian Thorpe's record haul from the 2001 championships in Japan.
Phelps is bidding for an unprecedented eight medals in the meet and is strongly favoured to win his remaining two events, the 400m individual medley and the 4x100m medley relay.
Meanwhile, New Zealand sprinter Zoe Baker has the chance to realise a burning ambition after qualifying for the 50m breaststroke final at the world championships in Melbourne.
Baker, 31, was the sixth fastest in the semifinals after facing an uneasy wait at the Rod Laver Arena.
After a brilliant swim to clock 31.25s in yesterday morning's heats, qualifying her second fastest, Baker was unable to replicate that in the semifinal when finishing fourth in 31.49s. Brilliant Australian Leisel Jones and top qualifier from the heats Jessica Hardy, of the United States, were the only two swimmers to better Baker's time in the other semifinal to ensure her a spot in the final tonight.
Baker won two world championship bronze medals, one short course world medal and a Commonwealth Games gold medal for her native Great Britain.
The veteran, who has been a New Zealand citizen for a decade, switched her allegiances to her new homeland three years ago.
She desperately wants to win a medal in New Zealand colours, with the world championships her only major chance because the 50m breaststroke is not included in the Olympic programme.
