SYDNEY (AFP) - Australian Sophie Edington broke the 50-metre backstroke world record with a new time of 27.67 seconds at the Australian Olympic trials here on Sunday.

Edington shaved 0.28 seconds off the previous record of 27.95 seconds, which had been set by compatriot Emily Seebohm the previous day in the semi-finals of the event.

Edington finished second behind Seebohm in the semi-finals, but Seebohm did not contest Sunday's final.

It was the third world record of the Australian Olympic trials after Stephanie Rice set a new best in the 400m individual medley on Saturday.