Cal's Missy Franklin Loses For 1st Time At Swim Worlds

BARCELONA, Spain (CBS/AP) -- Incoming Cal freshman Missy Franklin lost for the first time at the world swimming championships on Friday, finishing fourth in the 100-meter freestyle.

That ended a run of four straight victories for Franklin at the Palau Sant Jordi, but she still has a shot at breaking the record for most gold medals by a woman at a world meet.

"I'm a little bummed," Franklin said. "I learned a lot, which is the most important thing. I think the 100 free is the event I definitely have the most room to improve on."

Cate Campbell of Australia pushed the pace from the start, making the flip more than a half-second under world-record pace. She had more than enough to hold on, touching in 52.34 seconds.

She was a half-body length in front of silver-medalist Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden. Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands edged Franklin for the bronze by 0.05.

Franklin shook off the defeat, coming back about 25 minutes later to easily post the top qualifying time in the semifinals of the 200 backstroke. She'll be a heavy favorite in that race Saturday night -- she's the Olympic champion and world-record holder -- which leaves her still on course to at least match Tracy Caulkins of the U.S. and Libby Trickett of Australia as the only women to win five events at worlds.

Caulkins won her five at the 1978 meet in Berlin, while Trickett did it in her home championships at Melbourne in 2007.

Franklin will have one more event after the backstroke -- Sunday's 4x100 medley relay -- so she's got a shot at joining Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz as the only swimmers to win as many as six golds at either worlds or the Olympics.

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