Eamon Sullivan led the world record winning this week when he smashed Frenchman Alain Bernard’s record by nine-hundredths of a second.
Sullivan held the record up to four days ago, with a time of 21.56. But Bernard went six-hundredths of a second better to snatch the record from the Australian.
Sullivan narrowly missed out on the 100m record held by the Frenchman, two-hundredths of a second preventing another achievement going on his impressive mantelpiece.
He was ecstatic to snatch the record back so quickly: “It’s sweet to get the record back off Alain after missing out on the 100m world record last night and after he broke the 50m record so quickly after I did it”, he said after the record breaking swim.
Sullivan wasn’t the only highlight in an action packed night. Libby Trickett swam the 100m freestyle in a time of 52.88, officially beating Germany’s Britta Steffen’s record of 53.30 set back in 2006.
It wasn’t her first swim under 53 seconds either. Last year’s Duel in the Pool event saw Lenton – now Trickett – come up against American Michael Phelps where she posted a time of 52.99.
Although the excitement was soon gone when it was announced the swim wasn’t ratified by FINA as she raced against Phelps.
Trickett spoke of her relief after the swim last night, “I can’t tell you how much I wanted to break that record ever since doing it in the Duel in the Pool in April last year. I just wanted it so badly”.
15-year-old Cate Campbell reserved her seat on the plane to Beijing, finishing second behind Trickett in an impressive swim that caught the eye of many.
Born in Malawi, Campbell looks to take on the world’s best alongside Trickett, an imposing combination in the making.
For those who doubted Australian swimming after Thorpe left and Hackett appeared to be loosing his touch, we forgive you.
Australian swimming is back and it’s never looked so good.
Stoffy
Guest
Spiro, It will be an enthralling contest in the women's 4x100 Medley relays. Australia have a strong outfit but the newly crowed champions Holland will be looking to keep the record intact. This with America to come as well. A shock to see the great "Flying Dutchman" Pieter van den Hoogenband missing out, Sullivan can breathe easy and hopefully hold onto the record he worked so hard to get, cant wait for the Olympics; sport, sport and more sport. I managed to book a seat at all of the events, in front of the T.V, free tickets and great viewing, what more can you ask for :-)
Spiro Zavos
Expert
It'll be interesting to see how these records hold up when the Americans, particularly, start their trials using the new Speedos or their equivalent. Are we going to see a battle of the swimsuits at Beijing? I agree with Kieran Perkins on this. However, I don't doubt that the power of the dollar will prevail and swimming is headed for a competition between the hi-tech aids to swimming faster.