Frenchman Bernard breaks world mark again in Euro swimming

BRUSSELS, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Alain Bernard of France broke the world record of the men's 100m freestyle for the second time in two days as he won the gold medal at the European swimming championships in Eindhoven, the Netherlands on Saturday.

Bernard, who earlier bettered the record held by Olympic champion Pieter van den Hoogenband in Friday's semi-finals, lowered it by a further 0.10 to 47.50 seconds to win the final.

Bernard clocked 47.60 seconds in the semi-finals to beat the 47.84 mark Van den Hoogenband set in the Sydney Olympics.

Van den Hoogenband, 30, pulled out of the event, having been ill during the week.

Sweden's Stefan Nystrand took silver in 48.40. Italy's world champion Filippo Magnini, the winner at the last two European championships, only managed for the bronze in 48.53.

Bernard's best time before Eindhoven was 48.12.

"It's unbelievable. I wanted to be faster today, now I know that I'm the man to beat. I have been searching for this level for years," the Frenchman said.