KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's Melissa Ingram finished with the third-highest medal haul at the conclusion of the World Cup swimming series in Berlin today.
The Beijing Olympian picked up her 16th medal over six meets, when she was third in the 400m, to complement nine golds and six silvers.
It was the third-highest total of medals for the series behind South Africa's Katheryn Meaklim and Australia's Marieke Guehrer who won the women's overall points honours and the US$100,000 ($183,722) prize.
The points system was based on times against world records during the series.
Ingram finished sixth in the points series, with double points on the final round and bonuses for world records, with 12 new marks established during the series.
The 23-year-old swimmer from North Shore followed her sweep of wins in the 200m backstroke with a third today behind Coralie Balmy of France.
Balmy went within a fingertip of compatriot Laure Manaudou's world record in three minutes 56.24 seconds to win from Lotte Friis of Denmark and Ingram, who clocked 4min 05.78sec.
Ingram set national records in the 200m backstroke, 200m and 400m freestyle during the series.
"Melissa has swum really strongly throughout the Wold Cup," coach Jan Cameron said.
"It was an invaluable opportunity for her to experience the pressure of weekly international competition, something we are just not able to get.
"She had to cope with the travel and different environments as well as training on her own.
"The competition was excellent and it will be a wonderful platform for her to press on now towards the world championships next year."
Ingram also picked up some valuable prizemoney, with US$1500 up for each win.
Ingram, who competed in South Africa, Australia, Singapore and three meets in Europe, will return to compete in the New Zealand summer championships in Christchurch next month.
- NZPA
