JINAN, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Hungary's Katinka Hosszu and Russia's Vladimir Morozov both collected three gold medals at the FINA Swimming World Cup in Jinan. China's Yan Zibei also celebrated his second title here on Friday.
Hungary's Olympic champion Hosszu, who won the 200m butterfly Thursday, touched first in the 400m individual medley.
The world record holder led the entire race to win in four minutes and 36.99 seconds, though 10.63 seconds slower than her world record at the Rio Games in 2016. She also won the event at the Gwangju worlds for the fourth consecutive time.
Her teammate Zsuzsanna Jakabos finished second in 4:45.28, while China's Liu Xin closed the podium in 4:49.72.
The "Iron Lady" never slowed her pace as she won the 100m back later Friday night.
The men's 1500m freestyle final captured the imaginations of the home audience as Shandong native Ji Xinjie competed in the long-distance race. Ji kept a good pace in the final and snatched the gold with a time of 15:16.15.
"I focused only on myself, and I think that is the most important thing," Ji said. "I didn't swim well in the mid 500m, but I kept the rhythm and did well in the last sprint."
The men's 50m backstroke was a battle between Russia's Morozov, American Michael Andrew, and China's Xu Jiayu. The three swimmers took the gold, silver, and bronze respectively. Morozov touched the line in 24.43, tying his World Cup record set last year in Russia.
Morozov then collected his third gold medal in Jinan as he won the 100m free in 47.99, a new World Cup record. Blake Pieroni of the United States came second in 48.15, while Hungary's Szebasztian Szabo was third in 48.63.
"Three golds in three events here," the exhausted winner said. "I didn't expect to go that fast. It is my best time in the whole season, so I am really happy with the time."
China's breaststroke specialist Yan Zibei claimed his second gold in Jinan by winning the men's 50m breaststroke in 27.12. Italy's Nicolo Martinenghi came second in 27.18, while Michael Andrew of the United States was third in 27.45.
"I had expected two golds here," conceded Yan, who also won the 100m breaststroke. "I performed my normal level. I am more confident after the Gwangju worlds as I made a breakthrough there. I hope I can be more stable in the future."
"I am satisfied with the time," added Yan, who broke the 100m breaststroke Asian record and took bronze at the Gwangju worlds last month. "I am very tired, so the result is acceptable to me."
Another breaststroke specialist Alia Atkinson of Jamaica also pocketed her second gold as she touched first in the women's 100m in 1:07.06. Russian Vitalina Simonova came second, and China's Yu Jingyao finished third.
China's Hou Yawen won a surprising gold medal in the women's 200m freestyle in 1:58.98. Sweden's Michelle Coleman was second while Hungary's Jakabos ranked third. China's Ye Shiwen failed to make the podium with a fourth finish.
In the men's 200m individual medley, Australian Mitchell Larkin, the gold medallist, was only 0.08 seconds faster than second-placed China's Qin Haiyang.
"It was a really close race. Qin was quick, but I was a little quicker than he was. It was a good competition and I am pretty happy," said Larkin, who touched in 1:57.26.
Australian freestyle specialist Cate Campbell chose to swim 50m fly this time and won the race in 25.63. Her teammate Holly Barratt was second in 25.63, while Denmark's Jeanette Ottesen ranked third in 25.86.
"I am really happy with the time, which is the fastest time for me," said Campbell. "I don't usually swim butterfly. I got a little bit bored just doing freestyle, so 50m fly for me is fun. Unfortunately 50m fly is not an Olympic event, and I will not swim 100m fly. I just do it (50m fly] in the World Cup."
Australia's Grant Irvine won the men's 200m butterfly in 1:55.94, and the Aussie team also grabbed the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay.
The second leg of the Swimming World Cup 2019 in Jinan continues on Saturday.
