EINDHOVEN, Netherlands (AFP) - Frenchman Alain Bernard's eyes are now firmly fixed on the Beijing Olympics after setting a new world record on his way to winning the men's 100 metres freestyle at the European swimming championships here on Saturday.
Bernard set a new world mark of 47.50sec to beat the record he set during his semi-final by 0.10secs.
The 24-year-old's record on Friday beat the previous record, held by Dutchman Pieter van den Hoogenband since 2000, by 0.24sec.
"It takes a while to sink in but once it has you say 'I really did that!'" said Bernard. "I used this as a test. Now I have to get used to it. It's a new status."
"It's my first European long-course title. I'm not ready to forget it!."
Such an exploit of beating the world record twice in the one competition has not been achieved since American James Montgomery at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
It is the first individual European title for the Frenchman who touched ahead of Swede Stefan Nystrand (48.40) and Italy's Filippo Magnini (48.53).
Nystrand added: "Honestly it hurts to be beaten by so much. I didn't swim badly but he was really too strong."
Wearing the controversial new swimsuit which is being credited with improving speed and floatability, Bernard took the lead after 30 metres holding his advantage throughout.
"I felt that I started too fast," said Bernard. "I felt good and I went all the way. It's very hard to have the perfect swim, that's what I'm looking for every day in training."
He added: "The best advice that Denis (Auguin, coach) gave me was to do what I knew how to. I said: 'Ok'".
The victory puts Bernard among the favourites for the Olympic title in Beijing in August, ahead of two-time defending champion van den Hoogenband.
It is the third European title of the championships for France after Laure Manaudou in the 200m backstroke and the women's 4x200m freestyle relay.
Russia managed two victories of the three other finals of the day in Yury Prilukov in the men's 1,500m freestyle, clocking 14min 50.40sec, and Yuliya Efimova in the 200m breaststroke, who touched home for gold in 2:24.09.
In the women's 100m butterfly, Sarah Sjoestroem of Sweden clocked 58.44sec to take the title, just ahead of Inge Dekker of the Netherlands who managed 58.50.
