BARCELONA (REUTERS) - Yuliya Efimova of Russia won gold in the women's 50 metres breaststroke at the world swimming championships on Sunday.

Efimova, silver medallist at the last edition in Shanghai two years ago and champion in Rome in 2009, clocked a time of 29.52 seconds.

World record holder Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania took silver in 29.59 and American defending champion Jessica Hardy took bronze in 29.80.