Therese Alshammar, Sweden's globetrotting swim queen, set world records in the 100m medley and 50m butterfly at the FINA/Arena Swimming World Cup at the Kings Park Aquatic Centre today. The medley mark fell to her in morning prelims. In the finals she left the short-course global mark at 24.75. There were two other world marks: Americans Jessica Hardy and Peter Marshall clocked 29.45 and 22.75 in the 50m breaststroke and backstroke respectively.

One more mark and there will have been 200 world records since the advent of performance-enhancing bodysuits made of non-textiles, such as polyurethane in February 2008. Silly season is almost over.

"I was happy with my form following the first day’s swimming and am really excited with my times produced here," said Alshammar, who ended the day $20,000 better off, each world mark worth $10,000 as the era of bodysuits and non-textile performance-enhancing suits enjoyed an Indian summer before its extinction on January 1, 2010, when new suit rules come into force. Only suits conforming to a definition of textile will be permitted, while suit profiles have been cut back to briefs to jammers for men and a cut from shoulder strap to above knee for women.

Debate continues about the need to cover the thigh with material, with some experts suggesting that performance enhancement will happen even with textile suits if suits extend down to the knee and provide core stability to swimmers. Some see such concerns as being a thought too far - but then Rule Sw10.7, via the express wish of 168 nations, now specifically forbids suits that may aid speed, buoyancy or endurance. No getting away from it. FINA's panel of scientists will doubtless be giving the issue some serious thought, if only so as not to be caught napping when and if (and when is more likely) others prove that suits engineered to provide core stability do indeed enhance performance. 

Meanwhile, Hardy, who had her own troubles with a different form of performance enhancement of late and is now back from a doping ban she challenged, said:  "I was swimming with ease out there in the water and I am pleased to have gone so fast so early in the ... series. I wasn’t happy with my performances during the previous evening’s swimming, so I am delighted to have produced this time."

Marshall,  who joined fellow American swimmer Sabir Mohammad in conducting swim development coaching clinics for young swimmers in and around Durban earlier in the week, said: “I was happy with my swim in winning the 100 metres backstroke the night before so I knew I was in good shape for the 50 metres backstroke. Hardy and I were training together in Los Angeles so it’s great that we could both get world bests this early."

Cameron Van der Burgh (RSA) was among the outstanding swimmers on the last night of racing in Durban, winning the 100m breaststroke in 56.60. The most stunning result of the Rome 2009 world championships came from Nadja Higl (SRB). She won the 200m breaststroke crown off an improvement of almost 10sec inside a matter of months. She won the same event in Durban, short-course, in 2:20.41.

Durban results at a glance:

Men:

• 1500 metres freestyle: 1 H Heerden (SA) 14:49.17, 2 R Schoeman (SA) 15:00.70, 3 M Meyer (SA) 15:05.08
• 200 metres freestyle: 1 D Townsend (SA) 1:42.79, 2 S Deibler (Ger) 1:43.71, 3 D Meichtry (Sui) 1:43.78
• 100 metres breaststroke: 1 C van der Burgh (SA) 56.60 (World Cup Record), 2 N Versfeld (SA) 57.92, 3 E Fischer (Bra) 58.47
• 50 metres backstroke: 1 P Marshall (USA) 22.75 (WR), 2 S Donets (Rus) 23.63, 3 A Delaney (Aus) 23.74
• 100 metres butterfly: 1 E Korotyshkin (Rus) 50.23, 2 L Ferns (SA) 50.44, 3 C le Clos (SA) 51.45
• 50 metres freestyle: 1 S Nystrand (Swe) 21.29, 2 R Schoeman (SA) 21.34, 3 S Deibler (Ger) 21.40
• 100 metres individual medley: 1 D Townsend (SA) 1:53.13, 2 M Rogan (Aut) 1:53.69, 3 C Le Clos (SA) 1:57.03
• 200 metres backstroke: 1 G Du Rand (SA) 1:49.53, 2 A Vyatchanin (Rus) 1:50.29, 3 A Delaney (Aus) 1:53.27