USA's Soni defends gold at worlds

Rebecca Soni of the United States defended her 100-meter breaststroke gold medal at the world swimming championships, leading all the way and finishing in 1 minute, 05.05 seconds.

Leisel Jones of Australia, the 2008 Beijing Olympics champion, took the silver Tuesday in a time of 1:06.25. Ji Liping of China earned the bronze with a time of 1:06.52.

Soni set a then-world record of 1:04.84 while winning in Rome two years ago, but that mark was beaten by teammate Jessica Hardy, who finished in 1:04.45 later that year.

Friis wins women's 1,500 at swim worlds

Lotte Friis of Denmark led for most of the race and won the gold medal in the 1,500 at the world swimming championships.

Friis, who took the silver medal in the 1,500 in 2009 and the 800-meter gold, finished Tuesday in 15 minutes, 49.59 seconds. Kate Ziegler of the United States, the world record holder, took silver in 15:55.60, and Li Xuanxu of China captured the bronze in 15:58.02.

The women's 1,500 is a non-Olympic event.

Zhao wins women's 100 backstroke at worlds

Zhao Jing of China gave the home crowd an early thrill Tuesday, winning the women's 100-meter backstroke at the world swimming championships.

Zhao finished in 59.05 seconds, sending red-clad and drum-beating fans into celebration in the second final of the night, Anastasia Zueva of Russia took the silver with a time of 59.06 seconds. Natalie Coughlin of the United States, who led after 50 meters, earned the bronze in 59.05 seconds.

Gemma Spofforth of Britain, the defending champion and world record holder, didn't make the final because of a bout of food poisoning in Shanghai over the weekend.