World champion Luo into semis of women's 100m breaststroke

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