Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) sets a new CR in the 50m breaststroke

RENANG INDONESIA. 2012 Olympic revelation Ruta Meilutyte (LTU, 15 years old) was the woman to beat in the 50m breaststroke, after establishing two consecutive Championships Records in the heats (29.56) and semi-finals (29.51) of this event. In the decisive race, the gold medallist in the 100m breaststroke in London, proved her present superiority in this distance, getting the gold in 29.44, a new Championships Record and giving her country the first medal ever in the history of these Championships. Also a première in the history of the competition was the silver medal of Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson (29.67). Sarah Katsoulis (AUS) got the bronze in 29.94. Jessica Hardy (USA), the world record holder and winner of the distance in 2008, was only fifth in 30.01.

World Record: Jessica Hardy (USA), 28.80 – November 15, 2009 in Berlin (GER)
Championships Record: Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 29.44 – December 13, 2012 in Istanbul (TUR)
Best performance of the current season (since August 2012): Ruta Meilutyte (LTU, 29.44 – December 13 in Istanbul, TUR) 
Last five (2002-2010) winners in this event: 2002 - Emma Igelstrom (SWE, 29.96); 2004 - Brooke Hanson (AUS, 30.20); 2006 - Jade Edmistone (AUS, 30.22); 2008 - Jessica Hardy (USA, 29.58); 2010 - Rebecca Soni (USA, 29.83)
The best in this event (1. most victories or 2. fastest time): Ruta Meilutyte (LTU, 29.44 – 2012)