KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--China's Ying Lu has set a world record in the life saving women's 200m obstacle swim. Lu swam a 2:08.11 in the final heat to break the world record of 2:08.27 set by Italy's Erica Buratto in March (download free news photos at www.pts.org.tw/wg2009).

Another four world records were set in fin swimming. Italy's 23-year-old Stefano Figini broke his own record in the men's 400m, and he finished in 2:58.64, easily outpacing silver medalist Sven Lutzkendorf of Germany and bronze medalist Denes Kanyo of Hungary.

In the women's apnoea 50m, where the swimmers torpedo through the water fully submerged and must hold their breath for the length of the race, China's Zhu Baozhen won in 15.10 seconds to smash compatriot Xu Huanshan's world record of 15.57.

China's Miao Jingwei won the men's 100m in 35.95, upsetting Ukraine's Dmytro Sydorenko who managed a 36.24 for silver, 0.11 seconds ahead of bronze medalist Andrea Nava of Italy. China also set a world record with a time of 2:37.81 to take the gold in the women's 4x100m relay.

Russia's Vasilisa Kravchuk grabbed a gold in the women's 200m by breaking her own world record with a time of 1:29.30, defeating compatriot Valeria Baranovskaya and Ukraine's Olga Shlyakhovska.

In Wushu, China and Russia have the first two of 13 golds in the Taolu Changquan (long staff); Yuan Xiaochao of China captured the first gold in the men's final, scoring a near-perfect 9.88 out of the maximum 10. Japan's Daisuke Ichikizaki and Russia's Semen Udelov ranked second and third. In the women's division, Russian Daria Tarasova took the gold with a score of 9.71, ahead of Vietnam’s Vu Tra My and Indonesia’s Susyana Tjhan. Crowds packed Kaohsiung County Stadium to catch a glimpse of the traditional Chinese martial art being performed at its highest level.

Tanja Romano of Italy led the women's artistic roller skating short program while compatriot Roberto Riva was in second on the men's side. Romano, the 23-year-old world number one, finished first with a score of 95.7. Monika Lis of Germany and Lindsay Mann of the USA were in third and fourth place.

The World Games 2009 Kaohsiung is being broadcast worldwide via ESPN & STAR Sports with distributions of approximate 100 million households.

(KOC-CNA)