Phelps powers to sixth gold

Swimming:  Michael Phelps won his sixth gold medal at the World Championships with victory in the 100 metres butterfly today…

Swimming: Michael Phelps won his sixth gold medal at the World Championships with victory in the 100 metres butterfly today.

The 22-year-old American beat world record holder and race favourite Ian Crocker into second place, his team-mate finishing 0.05 seconds behind Phelps' 50.77secs.

"That's how I won the Olympic medal. You have to nail the finish," Phelps said. "I got my hand on the wall after taking the race out after 50m."

Australia's women set a new world record in the 4x100m relay, finishing in three minutes, 55.74 seconds to beat their own previous best of 3:56.30 set last year.

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Commonwealth champion David Davies qualified quickest for the final of the 1500m despite the much heralded return of four-time winner Grant Hackett.

The Welshman swam an impressive 14:53.57, over two-and-a-half seconds faster than the next best Larsen Jensen. The American won his heat in 14:56.28.

Australia's Hackett - who missed the chance to race Davies in last year's Commonwealths, also in Melbourne - was almost 25 seconds off his world record as he made the final in 14:59.24.