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Sullivan sets another world record time

Twice in two nights: Eamon Sullivan broke his own 24-hour-old world record in the 50m freestyle yesterday at the Australian swimming championships and Olympic trials.

It was the fourth time in the past six weeks that the record has been broken after Russian Alexander Popov's record had stood for nearly eight years. The 22-year-old Sullivan has improved on it for the third time in that span.

Sullivan clocked a time of 21.28 seconds in the final yesterday at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Center, where he had lowered the mark to 21.41 in the 50 free semi-finals on Thursday.

That mark broke Frenchman Alain Bernard's time of 21.50 set last weekend.

Bernard had broken Sullivan's previous mark of 21.56 set on Feb. 17 at the New South Wales Open in the same Sydney pool. Popov's previous record of 21.64 was set in Moscow on June 16, 2000.

"It's such a blur, a rush of energy, it all happens so fast," Sullivan said. "It does surprise me a little bit."

Sullivan said he can't begin thinking about the Beijing Olympics, where he'll go in as a gold medal favorite.

"Hopefully they'll be shaking in their boots," Sullivan said, smiling, of his sprint opposition, including Bernard, in August in China. "But it's been a long meet. I'm looking forward to having a few days off and catching up with friends."
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