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GWANGJU, South Korea, July 26-- Three new swimming world records were set at the 18th FINA World Champions here on Friday. The first was taken by Caeleb Dressel of the United States, who clocked 49.50 seconds in the men's 100m butterfly semifinals. Dressel, who won seven world titles in Budapest two years ago, touched home first for Saturday's final, breaking the prior record of 49.82 set in 2009 by his compatriot Michael Phelps. Dressel had earlier claimed three titles in the 50m butterfly, 100m freestyle and the 4x100m freestyle relay events. Russia's Anton Chupkov created a new world record of 2:06.12 in the men's 200m breaststroke final. Chupkov beat the previous record of 2:06.67 set in 2017 by Ippei Watanabe of Japan, and edged Matthew Wilson of Australia who led the semifinals with a time identical to Watanabe's previous record. Wilson touched home in 2:06.68 to take a silver medal, and Watanabe timed in 2:06.73 to pocket the bronze. In the women's 200m backstroke semifinals, Regan Smith of the United States set a new world record of 2:03.35. Smith lowered the previous record of 2:04.06 set in 2017 by her compatriot Missy Franklin, touching home first to qualify for Saturday's final. The 17-year-old had set a new world junior record of 2:06.01 in the heats. In the women's 200m breaststroke final, China's Ye Shiwen finished fourth in 2:23.15, 2.98 seconds behind gold medalist Yuliya Efimova of Russia, who clocked 2:20.17. | 
