Spain's Aschwin Wildeboer Faber broke the 100 metres backstroke world record during the 4x100 medley relay final at the Mediterranean Games in Pescara.

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He swam the first leg in a record 52.38 seconds as Spain won the gold medal in three minutes 34.22.

Wildeboer Faber beat American Aaron Peirsol's previous record of 52.54 which he set when winning gold at last August's Beijing Olympics.

Italy's Federica Pellegrini reclaimed the women's 400 freestyle world record when she took gold in the final at the Mediterranean Games on Saturday.

The four-yearly Games, which has welcomed over 4,000 competitors from 23 countries in the region, officially began on Friday and runs for 11 days.

The event is taking place in the Italian region of Abruzzo, shaken by a large earthquake in April which killed nearly 300 people.