Twice world champion Luo Xuejuan of China reached the semifinals of the women's 100 meters breaststroke at the Olympic Games in Athens on August 15.

The 20-year-old Luo, who won the event both in the 2001 and 2003 world championships, came second in heat 5 with a time of 1:

09.07, behind American Amanda Beard in 1:08.04.

She was sixth overall and 1.72 seconds behind Australia's Brooke Hanson.

"I felt good in the race and the time is not bad," she said. "I believe I can get better and better in the semifinals and the finals. "

Another Aussie Leisel Jones, who holds the event's world record of 1:06.37, was second in 1:07.69.

Jones set the record in semifinals of last year's world championships in Barcelona, but lost to Luo in the finals.

Source: Xinhua