Olympics: Sullivan breaks 100m free record with Bernard

Wednesday, 13 August 2008

BEIJING - Australian Eamon Sullivan and French rival Alain Bernard swapped world records in a phenomenal showdown for sprinting supremacy in the Beijing Olympics 100 metres freestyle semi-finals on Wednesday.

Bernard triggered the sensational exchange when he broke Sullivan's world record of 47.24 seconds set in the lead-off swim of Monday's 4x100m freestyle relay final by four-hundredths of a second in 47.20.

Sullivan's reply was bold and immediate slicing a further 0.15 seconds off Bernard's minutes-old record to reduce the world mark to an incredible 47.05 seconds.

"I just feel great. I got to the turn and felt like I didn't spend much energy on the way out," Sullivan said.

"I just used the extra energy for the second lap. I knew I'd have to be on my game to get to the final, I just came out and tried to swim my own race.

"I didn't watch the first semi (won by Bernard) on purpose to make sure I was on top of things.

"Records don't mean much, it's all about medals at the end of the day."

Dutch star Pieter van den Hoogenband, bidding to become the first man to win the same Olymic swimming title three times in a row, said his chances had virtually evaporated amid the blistering times.

"I don't think so," the 30-year-old Dutchman said of his chances of winning swimming's blue riband event one more time. But he was thrilled with the display.

"It's fantastic. This is a new period in swimming, a whole new level, new swimsuits and a new generation. It's unbelievable," he added.

His third-fastest time out of the semis (47.68) booked a fourth straight appearance in the final, something only American Matt Biondi had done before him.

"It was my dream to make my fourth final at the Olympics," he said.

The high-powered rivalry between Sullivan and Bernard made for an electric atmosphere inside the 17,000-capacity Water Cube as the two sprint titans, who have traded world records in the 50m and 100m freestyle this year, resumed their battle in the Olympic pool.

Sullivan holds both the 50m and 100m freestyle world records.

Sullivan by right of his astonishing act of world record brinkmanship is now the favourite to land the blue riband 100m sprint crown in Thursday's final.

But on performances it is going to be a mighty showdown between the world's elite sprinters.

"What Sullivan did was a great answer to the world record, but the main thing was to qualify for the final," Bernard said.

"It's a high-level competition, so it's (records) normal, but the most important is the final."

Australian Matt Targett was fourth quickest in 47.88 ahead of Sweden's Stefan Nystrand (47.91) and American freestyle relay hero Jason Lezak (47.98).

The top six swimmers all went under 48 seconds in their semi-finals.