Russian swimmers set new world records

Russian swimmers Anastassia Zueva and Yulia Efimova have set new world records for the women's 50m backstroke and 100m breaststroke. The 18-year-old Zueva, from the region of Penza in central Russia, clocked 27.48 seconds during the preliminary contest at the Russian Championships, chopping 0.19 seconds off the old record on Tuesday. The previous 50m backstroke record was first set by Australian Sophie Edington at the Australian Olympic trials in March 2008 and then equaled by Zhao Jing on April 9, 2009. Another Russian swimmer, Yulia Efimova, set a new European record for the women's 100m breaststroke with 1 minute and 5.80 seconds on the same day. Yefimova, who turned 17 this month, managed to shave 0.08 seconds off the old mark, which was set by Australia's Jade Edmistone in Melbourne in January 2006. "It's a big, big surprise for me. But to break it twice in a day is just unbelievable," Yefimova said. "Still, I value my European 100m record more than the one I set today," she added. "I regard the 50 more as a training event for the 100 and 200."