Sydney: Twice in two nights: Eamon Sullivan broke his own 24-hour-old world record in the 50-metre freestyle today at the Australian swim championships and Olympic trials.

It was the fourth time in the past six weeks that the record has been broken after Russian Alexander Popov's record had stood for nearly eight years. The 22-year-old Sullivan has improved on it for the third time in that span.

Sullivan clocked a time of 21.28 seconds in the final today at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, where he had lowered the mark to 21.41 in the 50 free semifinals yesterday.

That mark had broken France s Alain Bernard time of 21.50 set at the European championships in Eindhoven, Netherlands last weekend.

Bernard had broken Sullivan's previous mark of 21.56 set February 17 at the New South Wales Open in the same Sydney pool. Popov's previous record of 21.64 was set in Moscow on June 16,2000.

"It's such a blur, a rush of energy, it all happens so fast," Sullivan said. "It does surprise me a little bit."

Sullivan said he cannot begin thinking about the Beijing Olympics, where he will go in as a gold medal favourite.

"Hopefully, they'll be shaking in their boots," Sullivan said, smiling, of his sprint opposition, including Bernard, in August in China.

"But it's been a long meet. I'm looking forward to having a few days off and catching up with friends."
Source : PTI