One hundredth of a second! World Cup points leader Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden managed a narrow victory in the women's 50m butterfly by edging Dutch veteran Ranomi Kromowidjojo by 0.01, while Vladimir Morozov of Russia missed the 100m freestyle World Record by 0.01 on the second day of the FINA Swimming World Cup 2018 here in Singapore on Friday November 16.
In a battle against Kromowidjojo, the Swedish star, who kept a record 4 wins and 2 losses in the last six legs, stormed home in 24.63, while Kromowidjojo came second in 24.64 in the 50m butterfly.
"It was an exciting race that I always wanted to improve. In another competition with Katinka on the overall points, we are very very close. So I need to give it all tomorrow in the 100m butterfly. I was waiting for a perfect race in the 100 fly, but I messed up in Beijing and Tokyo."
"Hopefully tomorrow I can have a really great race and get more points," said Sjostrom now lleading the overall points with 321.
She is followed by Katinka Hosszu with 303.
Hosszu, Queen of IM, never looked back and breezed to take the 400m IM win in 4: 24.02. But in the field of the 100m backstroke, Hosszu was one step away from the podium as Kira Toussaint of the Netherlands won the gold in 55.92. Minna Atherton of Australia came second in 56.21.
Morozov sprinted a 44.95 for a new World Cup record in the 100m freestyle, 0.01 shy of the World Record held by Frenchman Amaury Leveaux set on December 13, 2008 in Rijeka, Croatia.
The previous World Cup record (45.16) was held by Morozov himself, established in Tokyo just six days ago.
"It is the first time I swam under 45 seconds, my best ever. I was so close to the World Record that brought me more confidence. Now I have a lot more chances to do that," said Morozov who led the overall points with 378 over his teammate Kirill Prigoda (222).
Xu Jiayu, Wang Shun and Li Zhuhao gave team China three big wins as Xu dominated the men's 50m backstroke (22.71), Wang won the 200m IM in 1:51.84 and Li took the 200m butterfly gold in 1:50.96.
"I enjoyed the short distance but my favorite would be the 100m. I hope I can sweep all three gold medals in the backstroke just like I did in Tokyo, " Xu said.
Rio Olympic champion Mack Horton ruled the men's 1500m freestyle in 14:44.22 and Ilya Shymanovich upset compatriot Kirill Prigoda in the 50m breaststroke 25.95-26.01.
Dutch veteran Femke Heemskerk had a one-man show in the women's 200m freestyle as she led all the way (1:52.57); Alia Atkinson of Jamaica clocked 1:02.74 in women's the 100 breaststroke, and she followed by Russians Yuliya Efimova in 1:03.58 and Vitalina Simonova (1:05.53).