Ning's delight at shock 100m freestyle gold

China's Ning Zetao was the shock winner of the men's 100m freestyle gold at the world swimming championships on Thursday as Australia's Cameron McEvoy had to settle for silver.

Ning touched the wall in 47.84 seconds as McEvoy, who had been fastest in the heats and semi-finals, finished second at 0.11sec with Argentina's Federico Grabich earning bronze at 0.28.

Olympic champion Nathan Adrian of the United States finished seventh at 0.47 back.

Ning, who was banned for a year after failing a doping test in March 2011 for taking the performance-enhancing drug Clenbuterol, is China's first gold medallist in the event.

He said his first major title gives him the perfect motivation in training to attempt to win the title at the Rio de Janerio Olympic Games next year.

"So far I don't understand what is going on, I can't describe my feelings," said the 22-year-old.

"Before the race, I didn't even think about a medal, I just wanted to show my best.

"I have had dreams about gold medals, but when I touched the wall I didn't realise I had it.

"I just touched the wall and I didn't know I had the gold until I saw the result. Just getting to the final was a big achievement.

"It was China's dream to have champions in the freestyle sprints and this has given me the confidence ahead of the Olympic Games next year on the big stage," he added.

The lieutenant in the Chinese navy proudly saluted his country's flag during the medal ceremony and Ning said time he has spent training in Australia recently gave him confidence to attempt to win the world title.

He has won his first world title having picked up gold in the 50m and 100m freestyle at last year's Asian Games.

McEvoy was delighted with his first individual medal at a world championships, having won a 4x100m freestyle relay silver in 2013.

"It's exciting, it puts me in a good position to be in for the year to come," said the 21-year-old after compatriot James Magnussen, the 2013 world champion, was ruled out of Kazan with a shoulder injury.

"I can't be disappointed with the placing, it's the best I ever had, a world silver medal.

"Thinking back a couple of years ago it was out of reach for me so to be in this position now especially with a year to go, it's exciting."
Source: AFP