"Nanjing was a really good experience in terms of high-level competition but these championships have kind of taken it to a whole new level. It's a good experience to race the top girls in the world," Throssell said.

For 18-year-old Yu Hexin of China, winner of the 50m free and 50m fly in Nanjing, this first participation at short-course Worlds is like no other: "Of course at the Youth Olympics, the competition level was not as high. I knew there was going to be a big gap between me and the top swimmers but I was not expecting it to be so big."

"I feel the pressure from the best swimmers in the world, that's why I intend to improve every single detail of my technique," Yu said.

Yu placed 36th in the men's 50m free (22.08) on Day 2 and 35th in the 100m free (48.69) on Day 4.

 


Yu Hexin (CHN) - Photo credit: YOG 2014

 

Youth Olympian Meli Malani from Fiji feels upbeat after this first week of international racing: "It's really tough racing up with the big guys. I feel good and positive about what's ahead. I can't wait for the next World Championships."

On top of training consistently, Malani is aware of the necessary sacrifices that any swimmer must make to build his way to the top: "I'll probably do all this diet discipline stuff they do," he says with a smile.

Malani achieved his best result in the men's 50m free on Day 2: "To be ranked 58th doesn't bother me but it makes me want to improve and hopefully do better when the next World Championships comes."

China's Shen Duo, who swept the women's 100m and 200m free in Nanjing, took 12th in both heats, clocking respective times of 52.82 and 1:54.98 in Doha.

 


Ahn Vien Nguyen (VIE) - Photo credit: Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia

 

Vietnamese Anh Vien Nguyen, gold medallist in the women's 200m IM claiming the first medal for her country at Youth Olympics including all sports, finished 15th in the women's 800m free, touching the wall at 8:27.36. 

The Ho Chi Minh-based swimmer, who learned to swim in the Mekong Delta at 11, put on a heavy schedule in Doha, entering the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m free, the 200m back, 200m and 400m IM events. She placed 13th in the 400m IM, posting 4:34.49.

Russian Rozaliya Nasretdinova, who won the women's 50m fly and 50m free in Nanjing, is qualified for tonight's final in the 50m free.