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Olympic champion Bernard sets 100m world record

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-08 17:00

PARIS -- Olympic champion Alain Bernard of France set a new world short-course record in 100 metres freestyle in a time of 45.69seconds in Angers on Sunday.

Alain Bernard of France reacts after his men's 100m freestyle semi-final at the European Swimming Championships in Eindhoven March 21, 2008. [Agencies]

Bernard beat the former record of 45.83, set by Sweden's Stefan Nystrand on November 17, 2007 in Berlin.

It is the first time Bernard, who won three Olympic medals in Beijing including gold in the 100m freestyle, has swam under the 46-second mark.

What was the Frenchman's first world short-course record comes in the wake of him setting four world records, three over 100m and one over 50m, in the longer, 50-meter pool earlier this year.