World championship silver medallist Belinda Hocking has broken her own Australian record in the 200m backstroke at the FINA World Cup in Berlin overnight, picking up silver behind world record breaking 16-year-old Missy Franklin from the US.

A gold medallist in the event in Stockholm last weekend, Hocking shaved more than a second off her previous best for the event (2:02.61), which was swam at the same venue in 2009, to finish in 2:01.24, with Franklin breaking the world record by 0.15 of a second in 2:00.03.

Hocking’s time was just outside the Commonwealth Games record of 2:00.91 held by Elizabeth Simmonds of Great Britain who finished third.

The 21-year-old from the Albury Swim Club and based at the AIS in Canberra then had to settle for another silver medal in the 50m backstroke in 27.02, with teammate Rachel Goh winning her fourth gold medal of the series in 26.80 and Simmonds third in 27.09.

Fellow Institute team mates Angie Bainbridge and Sally Foster were also amongst the medals.

Having recorded a personal best time in the 200m freestyle in Stockholm, Bainbridge won her fourth silver and fifth medal overall of the series, finishing second in the 200m free in a new PB, just 0.01 of a second better than her time in Sweden.

Bainbridge was a second behind gold medal winner Allison Schmitt from the US in 1:52.08, and also finished fifth in the 50m freestyle in 24.64, while Foster took bronze in the 100m breaststroke in 1:06.54.

Swimming Australia Head Coach Leigh Nugent said while the racing continues to get tougher the small Australian team has also found a new gear.

“We always want to see people improving their times as the meets go on, and that was certainly the case here in Berlin tonight,” Nugent said.

“Belinda Hocking’s swim was outstanding, chasing down a world record performance by Franklin.”