HURLEY BEATS OLYMPIC CHAMP BUT MISSES THE CUT

ROME, July 26 AAP - Rising Australian freestyler Robert Hurley beat Olympic champion Park Taewhan but still missed the finals of the 400m freestyle at the FINA world championships on Sunday.

Hurley was second in the final heat of the 400m freestyle in a time of three minutes 46.01 seconds, beating Korean Olympic champion Park by 0.03 seconds, but too far behind German frontrunner Paul Biedermann (3:43.01).

Hurley's time was not enough to reach the final as he was 11th, 12th-placed Park becoming the first casualty in the swim suit wars as he is contracted to Speedo while most other entrants wore new generation suits.

"You would think if you beat the Olympic champion like I did you'd make the final but obviously not," said Hurley.

"I knew I had a tough heat in there. I thought if I could finish in the top two or three I would be a shot at making the final.

"I'm happy with a PB (personal best time) but a bit disappointed to miss the final."

Park also expressed disappointment, conceding he was too tired and felt the pressure as Olympic champion.

"I am feeling under a big pressure," said Park.

"This defeat could be good for my future."

Australian Ryan Napoleon was 21st in a time of 3:47.98.

Olympic relay gold medallist Bronte Barratt faded terribly in her 400m freestyle heat to clock 4:15.62 - more than 11 seconds off her best time to finish in 27th.

Australian teenage rookie Ellen Fullerton finished ninth with a time of 4:08.31, to miss the finals by just 2.61s from Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington.

Triple Olympic champion Stephanie Rice started her campaign with a slick 2:09.64 to qualify for the semi-finals third in the 200m individual medley, with Emily Seebohm (2:11.31) in eighth.

However, Rice's world record is certain to fall in the finals after USA's Ariana Kukors led the heats in 2:08.53, just 0.08s off Rice's mark.

Rice was also under her world record at the 150m mark, but her Jaked suit filled with water slowing the Australian down.

"It filled up with quite a bit of water ... it's just something I'll have to adjust a bit for the semi-final," said Rice.

Former world champion Jess Schipper (57.17s) was third quickest in the 100m butterfly, with Felicity Galvez (57.76s) in ninth position.

Andrew Lauterstein (23.10s) was fifth fastest in the 50m butterfly, with fellow Australian Matt Targett (23.23s) also advancing to the semi-finals in eighth.

Olympic silver medallist Brenton Rickard showed he was the man to beat in the 100m breaststroke clocking the fastest time of 58.98s in the heats, with teammate Christian Sprenger (59.52s) eighth.

The men's and women's 4x100m freestyle relay teams progressed to the Sunday finals to be Australia's only medal chances on the opening day of competition.

The women - Sally Foster, Marieke Guehrer, Shayne Reese and Meagen Nay - clocked 3:35.26 to be the third fastest into the final.

Former world record holder Libby Trickett and Cate Campbell are expected to come into the squad for the final.
The men - Matthew Abood, Andrew Lauterstein, Tommaso D'Orsogna and Matt Targett - posted a time of 3:12.58 to be seventh fastest into the final.