Australia's swimming star Michael Klim broke the World Championship record in the 100-metres butterfly as he completed a gold medal hat-trick in Perth.

Klim powered his way to victory to add to his triumphs in the 200-metres freestyle and 4x200-metres freestyle relay. He has also collected two silvers.

The 20-year-old took half a second off the mark established by countryman Geoff Huegill in the heats only hours earlier. He finished with a time of 52.25 seconds which was only 0.1 of a second outside his own world record.

Wu Yanyan (right) whispers in the ear of Chen Yan

Huegill had to settle for the bronze in 52.90 as the two home heros were split by Sweden's Lars Frolander (52.79).

China's Wu Yanyan overcame the drug controversy surrounding her team to shatter the championship record in the 200-metres individual medley.

The 20-year-old sliced nearly a second off the drug-tainted mark set by former East German Petra Schneider 15 years ago with a time of 2:10:88.

Wu is only the second Chinese swimmer to take gold at the championships. Chen Yan won the 400-metres freestyle and 400-metres individual medley. Chen had to settle for silver in Friday's event.

Kurt Grote won the 200-metres breaststroke

In the 200-metres breaststroke, American Kurt Grote took gold (2:13:40) by just 0.02 of a second from Frenchman Jean-Christophe Sarnin, with Hungary's title holder and Olympic champion Norbert Rozsa third in 2:13:59.

Not one British swimmer reached an individual final on Friday, although James Hickman, fifth in the 200-metres butterfly, did win the consolation race in the 100-metres in 53.85.

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