BERLIN—American swimmer Missy Franklin set a short-course world record in the 200 backstroke on Saturday, clocking 2 minutes, 0.03 seconds at a World Cup meet in Berlin.
The 16-year-old Franklin shaved 0.15 seconds off the old mark set at the same meet by Shiho Sakai of Japan in 2009.
The American teenager from Aurora, Colo., emerged as one of swimming’s new stars by winning three world championship titles in Shanghai this summer, but this is her first world record.
“It’s such a great pool, such a great time,” Franklin said.
Its the first woman’s individual record in a short-course or long-course pool since high-tech bodysuits were banned at the beginning of last year. China set a world record in the 4×200 freestyle relay at the 2010 short-course worlds in Dubai.
“It’s just incredible,” Franklin said.
