Sjostrom, Morozov, big winners at swimming WC

Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden had two more titles and Vladimir Morozov of Russia took another title on the last day of the last stop in the FINA Swimming World Cup 2018 here on Saturday.

In her favorite 100m butterfly, Sjostrom was under world record pace in the first 50m but slowed down in the last 25 to touch home first in 55.73. She later came from behind to win the 100m freestyle in 51.13.

"I couldn't expect any better ending like this as I won two gold medals tonight and also top the overall rankings of the World Cup this year. Now I will start to celebrate my holidays," said Sjostrom.

Morozov was the fastest in the men's 50m butterfly in 22.17, beating Michael Andrew of the United States to second in 22.32 and local hero Joseph Schooling third in 22.40.

"All the races I have competed were preparation for the Hangzhou World Championships next month," said Morozov.

Hungarian Katinka Hosszu proved her reputation as the Queen of IM by taking 200m IM in 2:04.79, beating Emily Seebohm of Australia to second (2:06.95). The Olympic champion also finished third in 200m backstroke in which Seebohm won in 2:01.60.

"I had great races here and I am happy with all of them. Now I will start to prepare for the next competition. See you in Hangzhou!" said Hosszu, who has collected 48 medals at the World Cup, including 31 golds, 5 silvers, 12 bronzes.

From Singapore, the Chinese swimmers took eight golds two silvers and three bronzes in all.

Xu Jiayu beat the world record line in his first half (23.65), but eventually missed the men's 100m backstroke record, which he set up in Tokyo last week, by 0.1 second in 48.98.

"My plan was to break the world record but I was too eager in the first 50m and became exhausted in the last lap. However, I'm confident that I can rewrite the world record next time," said Xu who has swept all three backstroke events in Singapore as well as in Tokyo.

Wang Shun, the 200 individual medley champion, made a perfect short course debut in the 400m IM by winning 3:59.99.

In other men's events, Blake Peroni of the United States clinched gold in 200m freestyle 1:41.15; Anton Chupkov and Kirill Prigoda gave Russia a one-two finish in the 200m breaststroke in 2:01.73 and 2:01.85, respectively.

In the women's field, Femke Heemskerk of the Netherlands crowned in 800m freestyle in 8:33.00, Jamaica veteran Alia Atkinson sprinted to take 50m breaststroke in 28.93; Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong, China were the top three in the mixed 4X50m medley relay.

A total of 385 swimmers have competed in the seventh and last leg of World Cup 2018.