SINGAPORE, Oct 29: Natalie Coughlin of the US smashed her own 100 metres short course backstroke world record during the 2nd leg of FINA World Cup here on Sunday, clocking a time of 56.51 seconds.

Her previous record was 56.71, set in New York in 2002.

Coughlin, who also holds the long course world record, burst from the wall to make the turn in 27.54 before powering away from the field to shatter her own five-year-old mark in the 25m pool.

Second placed Sophie Edington of Australia finished nearly three seconds behind the American in 59.37 while Tayliah Zimmer, also from Australia, was third in 1:01.03.

Coughlin, one of the few top stars to make the trip to Singapore, had won the 100m butterfly on the opening day of the championships on Saturday in the world’s fastest time this year (56.35).

However, she missed out to Sweden’s Therese Alshammar in the 50m freestyle.

Singapore is the second stop on the World Cup circuit, and the only one in Asia. It got underway in Durban, South Africa last weekend.—AFP