BRONZED AUSSIE EMILY

ROME, July 29; Australia's Emily Seebohm buried her Beijing demons with a bronze medal in the women's 100m backstroke at the FINA world championships on Tuesday.

Seebohm failed to reach the final at the 2008 Olympic Games after she lost seven kilograms in weight through pre-meet stress.TOOD BALYM AAP Reports...

But the 17-year-old controlled her emotions in Italy to finish in third place with a time of 58.88 seconds behind Great Britain's Gemma Spofforth who set a new world record of 58.12s.

Russia's Anastasia Zueva was second in 58.18s.

"It's great after coming from where I come from in Beijing where I didn't even qualify for the final so it's great to be in the final and come third," said Seebohm, who was fourth at the 2007 world championships as a 15-year-old in Melbourne.

"At my last world champs I came fourth so to be third this time which I'm really excited about getting a medal."

Seebohm also defied the trend in the Australian team, sticking to her personal sponsor Speedo's LZR racer for the final.

Gold medallist Spofforth also wore the LZR suit.

"I have no problems with this suit. Speedo has been a great sponsor for me and to show them how much they mean to me I'm wearing their suit," she said.

"(Coach Matt Brown) kept telling me I could go under 59 and I think now I can go faster than that."

Australian breaststroke Sarah Katsoulis went within 0.11s of her maiden international medal, touching fourth in the 100m in 1:05.86.

Katsoulis led at the 50m turn, but was overhauled by US world record holder Rebecca Soni (1:04.93), Russian Yuliya Efimova (1:05.41) and USA's Kasey Carlson (1:05.75).

"I'm pretty happy with that," said Katsoulis.

"It was pretty close ... it's a little bit disappointing to miss third place and come so close."

Kenrick Monk placed fifth in the 200m freestyle final in a time of 1:45.46 as German Paul Biedermann continued his legend slaying taking down Michael Phelps and his world record to win in a time of 1:42.00.

Australia's other finalist, 5km open water champion Melissa Gorman, was seventh in the 1500m freestyle final in 16:09.66.

Australia's 100m breaststroke world champion Brenton Rickard qualified fourth fastest for the 50m final, which means he will swim in lane six as he did for the 100m final.

Rickard joked he would have to rename the the alley "Lane Rix" if he gets up again on Wednesday night.

"I don't fear anyone these days and obviously it's going to be tough to beat Cam (van der Burgh) but at the same time I have no weight on my shoulders, I've won the gold medal and I'm really happy with the way I'm swimming," said Rickard.

Australian pair Stephanie Rice (1:58.33) and Ellen Fullerton (1:57.43) both missed qualification for the 200m freestyle final.