China's Luo Xuejuan completed her second successive golden breaststroke double at the world swimming championships on July 27 when she added the 50 breaststroke to the 100 title she retained last Tuesday.

Britain's Zoe Baker held a narrow lead through the first half of the one-length race but Luo charged past in the closing stages to score a clear victory in 30.67 seconds, 0.10 seconds outside Baker's world record.

Australia's Brooke Hanson also overtook Commonwealth champion Baker to scoop the silver in 31.13. Baker had to settle for bronze in 31.37.

Luo, 19, is the first woman to win the same two breaststroke events at two world championships.

Seventeen-year-old Australian Leisel Jones, who had taken silver in the 200 and bronze in the 100, finished fourth in 31.50.

(China Daily July 28, 2003)