Japanese national record holder Naoki Mizunuma clinched silver in the men's 100-meter butterfly Friday for Japan's first medal in the event at a world aquatics championships.
Mizunuma, who shaved 0.05 second off his previous best mark to establish a new Japan record of 50.81 seconds a day earlier in the semis, clocked 50.94 in the final at Budapest's Duna Arena to finish 0.80 behind Hungary's Kristof Milak.
Milak, who smashed his own world record to win the 200 butterfly on Wednesday, became only the third male swimmer to achieve the 100-200 butterfly double at a single worlds. Mizunuma also cemented his name in Japan swimming history.
"I'm really happy to be a part of history," the 25-year-old Mizunuma said.
"I managed to get a sub-51-second time. I'm sure I'll be expected to win a medal next year (at the world championships) in Fukuoka so I want to continue racing at the top level," he said.
Elsewhere, the Japanese artistic swimming team won bronze in the women's team free routine with 93.1333 points. Japan now has six artistic swimming medals, equaling an all-time high at a single worlds.
China scored 96.7000 points to win the gold medal after Russia had won all seven previous editions. Russia and Belarus athletes have been barred from this year's world championships in Budapest.
The June 18-July 3 championships feature five FINA aquatics disciplines -- swimming, artistic swimming, open water swimming, diving and water polo.
