BARCELONA, Spain - China's Liu Zige and her compatriot Zhao Jing won gold medal on Thursday in women's 200 meters butterfly and 50 meters backstroke respectively at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona FINA World Championships.

Liu finished the race in 2:04.59, followed by Spain's and local favorite Mireia Belmonte who won silver medal and Hungary's Katinka Hosszu who took bronze.

China's Liu Zige swims in the women's 200m butterfly final during the World Swimming Championships at the Sant Jordi arena in Barcelona, Aug 1, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

Chinese record holder Zhao clocked 27.29 in women's 50 meters backstroke, followed by her compatriot Fu Yuanhui, gold in Rome 2009, who clocked 27.39. Japan's Aya Terakawa took bronze finishing the race in 27.53.

After the ceremony, Fu told reporters she "felt better after the competition" while pointing out she "was very satisfied" about the race; while the 28-year-old Terakawa said she was very happy to be back in Barcelona 10 years after 2003 World Championships and be able to compete.

Meanwhile, American Ryan Lochte claimed gold medal in men's 200 meters individual medley. The 28-year-old and world record holder Lochte finished the 200 meters in 1:54.98, followed by Japan's Kosuke Hagino and Brazil's Thiago Pereira.

Lochte took his third consecutive gold medal in Barcelona after his successes in Rome 2009 and Shanghai 2011.

Australia's James Magnussen won his second gold medal in men's 100 freestyle after Shanghai 2011, clocking 47.71, while the US James Feigen and his compatriot Adrian Nathan finished second taking silver and bronze respectively.

Magnussen said he was very proud of the results and told reporters "it was a very emotional day in race". He explained he had "struggled a lot on my own" after the Olympics but "I feel backed by the team".

Ryan Lochte of the US swims to win the men's 200m individual medley final during the World Swimming Championships at the Sant Jordi arena in Barcelona, Aug 1, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

The US team won gold medal in 4x200 freestyle relay, followed by Australia and France who took silver and bronze respectively. The US swimmer Missy Franklin, who won her fourth gold medal, told reporters her "motivation was let's go and have fun".

Despite the big number of races they have to swim, she said she can celebrate her medals just after the race because "you have to enjoy the moment and sing our hymn from our lungs".

Apart from the finals, the Palau Sant Jordi host four semifinals events on Thursday.

Sweden's Sara Sjostrom finished first in women's 100 meters freestyle semifinals clocking 52.87, followed by Australia's Cate Campbell, one of the favorites to win the final, and the Netherlands' Ranomi Kromowidjojo.

Meanwhile, Denmark's Rikke Moller Pedersen broke a world record in women's 200 meters breaststroke semifinals clocking 2:19.11, below the previous world record of London 2012, 2:19.59, held by the United States' swimmer Soni Rebecca.  

Men's 200 breaststroke semifinals saw Hungary's Daniel Gyurta finish first clocking 2:08.50, followed by Germany's Marco Koch and Britain's Andrew Willis.

In men's 200 backstroke semifinals the US Tyler Clary finished first, followed by his compatriot and gold medallist Ryan Lochte. Meanwhile, Japan's Ryosuke Irie finished third.

On Friday the Palau Sant Jordi will host four semifinals and five final events, namely women's 100 meters freestyle, 200 meters breaststroke and men's 200 meters backstroke and breaststroke and 4x200 freestyle relay.

Australia's James Magnussen celebrates after winning the men's 100m freestyle final during the World Swimming Championships at the Sant Jordi arena in Barcelona, Aug 1, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]