BARCELONA (REUTERS) - American teenager Missy Franklin captured a record-equalling fifth gold medal at a single world championships when she won a second consecutive 200 metres backstroke title in Barcelona on Saturday.

The 18-year-old clocked a time of two minutes 04.76 seconds, a championship record, with Australia's Belinda Hocking taking silver in 2:06.66 and Hilary Caldwell of Canada bronze in 2:06.80.

Franklin already had golds this week in 100 backstroke, 200 freestyle and the 4x100 and 4x200 freestyle relays and she came fourth in Friday's 100 freestyle.

Her fifth triumph means she has matched a feat achieved only by American Tracy Caulkins in 1978 and Australian Libby Trickett in 2007.