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Bernard sets new record
21/03/2008 22:10 - (SA)
Eindhoven - Alain Bernard shattered Pieter Van den Hoogenband's 100m freestyle world record in the Dutchman's home pool on Friday with a time of 47.60 seconds at the European swimming championships.
In the first semi-final Bernard took nearly a quarter of a second off the old record of 47.84, set by Pieter Van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
Van den Hoogenband, the European and Olympic champion, was forced out of the morning's heats due to illness.
Bernard sat on his lane marker and punched the water in delight as he looked up at his time on the scoreboard.
"This is a surprise for me," Bernard said. "I wanted to do my best today and then go really fast tomorrow. It is extra special to do this in the Netherlands."
Bernard turned in 22.88 - inside Van den Hoogenband's old mark - and stormed down the second lap to finish nearly a second in front of fellow Frenchman Fabien Gilot, who was second.
Short course world record holder Stefan Nystrand of Sweden, racing in the second semi-final, was the third fastest qualifier for Saturday's final and world champion Filippo Magnini of Italy was fifth fastest.
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