Steffen drops out of Worlds
German swimmer Britta Steffen has pulled out of the world swimming championships in Shanghai, saying she was not ready to compete.

The two-time Olympic and world champion withdrawn from further action after finishing 16th in the 100m freestyle heats on 54.87. Veronika Popova (RUS) will get the place.

Following are the qualifiers: Heemskerk, Ottesen, Kromowidjojo, Vollmer, Muffat, Kukla, Coutts, Tang, Halsall, Herasimenia, Vanderpool, Coughlin, Poon, Marko-Varga, Fagundez, (Steffen), Popova.

Pellegrini new face of Olympic bid
Olympic medallist Federica Pellegrini is to be the new face of Italian Olympic bid.

The Italian Olympic Committee named Rome as its candidate city for the 2020 Summer Games.

The 22-year-old swimmer from Mirano (Venice province) and based in Paris, is the first woman to win 200 and 400 metres freestyle at two consecutive world swimming championships.