Japan's multi Olympic swimming gold medalist Kosuke Kitajima has passed his first major test in his quest to for an unprecedented “triple double” at the London Games in 2012.

France's former Olympic champion Laure Manaudou and her swimmer boyfriend Frederick Bousquet have become the proud parents of a baby girl, the president of her former club the Marseille Swimming Circle (CNM) announced on Sunday.

Australia's former dual world record holder Eamon Sullivan, 24, said he went through a dark period last December after discovering he had to undergo a fifth hip operation.

Olympic swim star Michael Phelps broke his own American record in the 200-yard butterfly on Sunday, winning in 1 minute 39.65 seconds at the Maryland State Championships at the U.S. Naval Academy.

The government will spend NT$890 million (US$27.81 million) this year to carry out a program titled “Swimming Up” aimed at promoting swimming and upgrading the swimming prowess of the public, a Sports Affairs Council (SAC) official said yesterday.

Local players will be setting their sights on a third consecutive pool tournament win when the Amway WPA Women's World 9-Ball Open begins in Taipei Thursday with the participation of 48 players from 19 countries.

Japanese Olympic gold medalist Kosuke Kitajima set a meet record in the 100-yard breaststroke on the last day of the Southern California Grand Prix swim meet, on Monday.

American Olympic stars Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff won 400-yard individual medleys on Sunday at the Long Beach Grand Prix.

When several world records were broken in the run- up to the FINA world championships in Rome, it was clear that the season would be dominated not so much by the swimmers, but by the times they were setting and the suits they were wearing.

Michael Phelps helped the United States set five world short-course records and dominate Europe in the Duel in the Pool on Friday.