SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia's Olympic gold medal prospects soared Thursday with a pair of world records for sprint stars Eamon Sullivan and Libby Trickett at the national trials.
Fast-improving Sullivan regained his 50-metre freestyle world record from Frenchman Alain Bernard and Trickett became the first woman to crack 53 seconds in the 100m freestyle.
Trickett, formerly Lenton, stopped the clock at 52.88 seconds to lop 0.42 secs off German Britta Steffen's record, set in August 2006.
Sullivan is in the midst of a compelling time-slashing duel with Bernard, who set three world records at last week's European championships in Eindhoven.
It had been a frustrating time for Sullivan at the Sydney trials, twice missing out on Bernard's 100m record, before he came up trumps in Thursday's 50m semi-final, regaining the standard he first set last month.
Sullivan lowered Bernard's time by nine-hundredths of a second in a time of 21.41 and then said he could go even faster in Friday's final.
Bernard held the record for just four days, with his 21.50 at the European championships lowering Sullivan's previous mark of 21.56 set in Sydney in February.
Trickett reclaimed what she believed was rightfully hers after world governing body FINA failed to ratify her previous best time of 52.99 because she was racing alongside American superstar Michael Phelps in the Sydney Olympic pool on April 2 last year.
"I cannot say how much I wanted to do that," Trickett said.
"Ever since 'Duel in the Pool' last year... I've just wanted it so badly and to see it officially up there (on the scoreboard) is just amazing.
"All my events are very important to me, but the 100m freestyle holds a special place in my heart and to know that four years ago I was going 0.8 seconds off that, it's just awesome.
"We have some fantastic girls coming through and it's going to be great for our relay team in Beijing."
Sullivan celebrated with a double-fist pump and a slap of the water after recapturing the 50m record.
"It's sweet to get this back after missing (the 100m record) last night," said Sullivan, who was just two-hundredths of a second off Bernard's mark in winning the 100m final on Wednesday.
"There was less pressure than last night obviously after making it on the team and getting that (qualification) out of the way.
"I wanted that record really badly and I'm very, very pleased with myself."
Sullivan joins girlfriend Stephanie Rice in having set two world marks this year, Rice capturing the 200m and 400m individual medley records at the trials.
Six world records have now been set at the Australian trials with two days left.
Sullivan says he is not finished yet, aiming at a crack at his new personal best in Friday's 50m final.
"I know I have another swim left so there's always another chance," he said.
"I always like to think I can take off another couple of hundredths (of a second) in the final."
Breaststroker Leisel Jones almost joined in on the record-breaking spree. She was 0.20 secs under record pace at the 150m, but faded in the final lap to miss her own 200m world record by 0.80 secs with a time of 2:21.34.
"I lifted off the crowd and drew energy off Eamon's world record," said Jones.
"It was a second off my best but I am still happy."
Hayden Stoeckel broke the men's 200m backstroke Commonwealth record in winning his final, clocking 1:56.75 to better Matt Welsh's 2000 Olympic time of 1:57.59, with Ashley Delaney (1:57.53) second.
Brisbane's Leith Brodie won the 200m individual medley in 1:59.90, joining Ian Thorpe as the only Australians to break the two-minute barrier.
