Alain Bernard broke the 100-meter freestyle world record for the second time in two days Saturday, setting a new mark of 47.50 seconds in the final at the European swimming championships.
«It's unbelievable,» Bernard said. «I wanted to be faster today»
«Now I know I'm the man to beat,» he said. «I have been searching for this level for years.
He powered to the 50-meter mark in 22.53 seconds, more than three-tenths of a second inside his own record time, and swam the second 50 in 24.97.
As he turned to look at the scoreboard displaying his new record, Bernard sat on the lane marker, spread his muscular arms wide and roared in delight.
World short-course record holder Stefan Nystrand of Sweden was second, nearly a second slower than Bernard in 48.40, and world champion Filippo Magnini of Italy was third in 48.53.
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