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Pellegrini, Manaudou set new records in Eindhoven

US swimmer Michael Phelps models the LZR Racer during the Speedo swimsuit launch in New York on Feb. 12. PHOTO: AFP

Federica Pellegrini set a world record in the women's 400m freestyle on Monday at the European swimming championships.

The Italian, fifth in the world championships last year, won in 4 minutes, 1.53 seconds, easily beating the old world mark of 4:02.13 set by Laure Manaudou of France.

Manaudou set her record at the last European championships in Budapest, Hungary, two years ago.

Pellegrini rebounded after being disqualified for a false start in the 200 freestyle heats.

"Of course I was a bit upset because of my disqualification in the 200 free," she said. "Today I desperately wanted to win gold, but didn't at all reckon with such a time."

Coralie Balmy of France was second in 4:04.15 and Camelia Potec of Romania was third in 4:05.62.

It was the second world record of the night in Eindhoven after Marleen Veldhuis earlier lowered the 50 freestyle mark.

The Dutchwoman finished in 24.09 seconds to lower the record of 24.13 set by Inge de Bruijn of the Netherlands at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. It was the third gold of the championships for Veldhuis.

De Bruijn presented Veldhuis with a bunch of red tulips at the medal ceremony. The former Olympic champion bowed and pressed her palms together in front of her face, as if in prayer, after giving Veldhuis the bouquet.

"I'm now the fastest woman in the water -- long and short course. It is fantastic to compete in front of a home crowd," Veldhuis said. "I thought I swam the perfect race yesterday, but I managed to go quicker."

Veldhuis led a Dutch 1-2 in the race, with Hinkelien Schreuder finishing exactly half a second back. Therese Alshammar of Sweden was third in 24.71.

After Veldhuis' victory, Alain Bernard won the men's 50m freestyle, but failed to make it four world records in as many days. The Frenchman finished in 21.66, outside the mark of 21.50 he set on Sunday night in the semi-finals. On Friday and Saturday, Bernard twice lowered the world 100m freestyle record.

AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING TRIALS

Stephanie Rice has broken the women's 200m individual medley world record at Australia's Olympic swimming trials, clocking 2 minutes 8.92 seconds.

It was Rice's second world record of the Sydney meet -- she set the 400m individual medley mark on Saturday night.

Rice's 2:08.92 mark, a personal best by 2.5 seconds, wiped 0.80 seconds off the record set by China's Wu Yan Yan for the 200m individual medley.
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