EINDHOVEN, Netherlands (AFP) - Record-breaking swimmer Alain Bernard's exploits at the European championships here have set him up as a major contender to become a star of the pool at the Beijing Olympics.
Bernard broke the 50 metre freestyle world record on Sunday for his third world mark of the European Championships in Eindhoven.
The 24-year-old Bernard swam 21.50 seconds in his semi-final to beat Australian Eamon Sullivan's 21.56 set last month.
He also clocked 47.50 to win the 100m freestyle in Saturday's final, breaking his own mark of 47.60 seconds set in the semi-finals on Friday. Dutchman Pieter van den Hoogenband set the old mark set at the 2000 Olympics.
Bernard, along with 2004 Olympic champion Laure Manaudou, still have to ensure qualification for the August 8 to 24 Olympics at next month's French championships in Dunkerque which double up as trials for Beijing.
Bernard had no special preparation for Eindhoven though he had worked hard on his weak point of starts which are crucial in the 50m. Combining superb physical preparation with a rigorous technique-enchancing programme, Bernard has thrust himself firmly into the public eye.
His coach Denis Auguin realises a major part of his role is to try and make sure the huge media coverage which will ensure does not hamper his build-up to the competition on his life in the Far East.
"We are going to go back to work on Wednesday," said Auguin. "We will prepare for Dunkerque as we said we would," with two weeks of training followed by a two-week tune-up taper to hit his peak at the right time for the April 20 to 27 Dunkerque event.
French swimming federation technical director Claude Fauquet was relaxed about the hullabaloo which could now surround the swimmer. "Things need to be dealt with calmly," Fauquet said.
"When a swimmer puts in the performances Bernard has done, it gives an incredible confidence in one's abilities. It will be a different matter at Dunkerque however because there will be the fear that an error will be made, the anxiety of possibly missing the trip to Beijing."
Nothing seems to be stopping Bernard who admitted on Sunday with understatement that he felt in good form.
"I'm feeling well and I'm taking a lot of pleasure from my swimming and perhaps that's my secret, enjoying myself," Bernard said. "That's an advantage and as everything is going well I'm making the most of it and am not thinking about things too much."
A major plus for Bernard had been his impressive start which he admitted had been a weakness of his till now.
"This (starts) was one of the things that I had been practising very hard on in training with the help of coaches from the French swimming federation," he said.
"We really thought hard about what I needed to do and made a decision on it. We will probably stick with it because it has been working."
Auguin had said he was delighted with Bernard. "He told me beforehand he was going to go fast and in his language I knew what that meant," Auguin said. "Moments like this are exceptional and you need to make the most of them."
