SHANGHAI - Italy's Olympic gold medallist Federica Pellegrini has qualified fastest for the 400 metres freestyle final of the World Swimming Championships taking place at the Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai.

Pellegrini, who holds the world record for this event, won the heat in 4:04.76 ahead of Camille Muffat of France (4:05.62).

Also making the final were Boyle, Friis, Palmer, Costa, Adlington and Hoff.

Earlier Sun Yang of China dominated the men’s 400m free heats, swimming under wolrd record pace at the 100m split with 53.94 (Biedermann 54.42 in 2009).

He enters the final with a time of 3:44.87.

Qualifiers: Sun, Vanderkaay, Biedermann, Mellouli, Rouault, Agnel, Park, Cochrane.

The United States quartet of Weir, Franklin, Joyce, Hardy, qualified fastest in the women's 400 freestyle relay.
The american clocked 3:35.64 to place ahead of World champion defender of The Netherlands by 0.12s.

In the men's 400 free relay, France team of Bernard, Stravius, Meynard and Gilot was fastest in 3:12.09. USA at second place in 3:13.50, while Italy and Russia tied the third with 3:13.61.