Olympics: France's Bernard claims 100m freestyle gold

Thursday 14 August 2008

BEIJING - France's Alain Bernard won the men's 100m freestyle gold medal at the Beijing Games Thursday, overtaking Eamon Sullivan on the closing length to triumph over the Australian world record holder.

Bernard didn't add to the flurry of world records in swimming's blue riband event, but he gave France its first swimming gold of the Games.

He also helped make up for French disappointment in the 4x100m freestyle relay, in which they narrowly lost out to Michael Phelps's US squad.

Bernard won in 47.21sec, with Sullivan second in 47.32.Cesar Cielo of Brazil and US relay hero Jason Lezak shared bronze, in a dead heat of 47.67.

Dutch star Pieter van den Hoogenband, vying to become the first man to win the same Olympic swimming event at three games in a row, was fifth in 47.75.

The world record in the event had fallen three times in Beijing.

Sullivan seized the mark from Bernard with a lead-off leg of 47.24sec in the 4x100m freestyle relay on Monday.

Bernard regained the mark with a time of 47.20 in the first semi-final on Wednesday, and Sullivan snatched it back with his astonishing 47.05 in the second semi.