World record holder Pan Zhanle wins gold in the 100m freestyle.
China's Pan Zhanle defended his men's 100-meter freestyle world record by winning the title in Doha on Thursday, sending a warning to rivals for the Paris Olympics gold medal.
The 19-year-old did not threaten the incredible 46.80 seconds he set with the leadoff swim in Sunday's relay at the World Championships, but 47.53 seconds was enough to secure his first individual world title at the Aspire Dome pool.
He had to fight for it, though, with Italian runner-up Alessandro Miressi and Hungary's bronze medalist Nandor Nemeth threatening to derail the Chinese favourite in a tense finish.
"I was a bit nervous because this is my first individual final at the World Championships," Pan told reporters.
"My time was just so-so. I tried my best but my level was not that strong. I know it's only the beginning. Let's meet in Paris."
Pan was a strong favourite for the blue riband title, but Canadian Finlay Knox's gold medal in the 200-meter individual medley surprised many.
Carson Foster, the United States' Fukuoka runner-up, had higher hopes, but Knox defeated him from lane seven in the final freestyle leg to win in 1:56.64, bettering his Canadian record. Italy's Alberto Razzetti won bronze.
"Historically, I'm pretty slow with backstroke (but) the last 50 everyone knows you just have to dig deep and go for it," said Knox.
In a small field that lacked all of the Fukuoka medalists, Briton Laura Stephens won the women's 200m butterfly title in 2:07.35, beating Denmark's Helena Bach by less than a tenth of a second.
Lana Pudar, 18, of Bosnia, won bronze and received the loudest cheers of the night from a raucous crowd of Bosnians.
American Claire Curzan continued her successful campaign by winning the non-Olympic 50m breaststroke in 27.43 seconds, beating Australian surprise package Iona Anderson by 0.02 seconds.
Curzan, who missed out on the United States' World Championships team in Fukuoka last July, now has four medals, including golds in the 100m backstroke and mixed medley relay.
Following Pan's world title, China's women completed a successful night for the country by winning the 4x200m freestyle relay gold ahead of Britain and a second-string Australian team.
Olympic silver medalist Siobhan Haughey will compete for the 100m world title on Friday, after becoming Hong Kong's first swimming world champion with her 200m victory on Wednesday.
Haughey, who finished second in the 100m to Mollie O'Callaghan in Fukuoka last year, qualified second behind Marrit Steenbergen of the Netherlands.
Sarah Sjostrom, the world record holder, entered the 100m but did not swim. This month, the Swedish veteran told home media that she will not compete in the event in Paris.
With world champion Tatjana Schoenmaker out of Doha, American Kate Douglass is on track to win her second title.
With a time of 2:21.50, she qualified second for the 200m breaststroke final on Friday, trailing only the top seed from the Netherlands, Tes Schouten.
Douglass, who won the 200m individual medley this week, finished second to South African Schoenmaker in the 200m breaststroke the previous year.
Matti Mattsson, Finland's Olympic bronze medalist, qualified fourth for Friday's men's 200 breaststroke final, with American Jake Foster as the top seed in 2:08.78.
SportsLigue