Sullivan improves 50m world swim record

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Eamon Sullivan has broken his own world record in the 50-meter freestyle, setting a second mark in 24 hours at the Australian swim 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 stood for nearly eight years.

The 22-year-old Sullivan has broken it three times.

Sullivan clocked 21.28 seconds in the final Friday, after lowering the mark to 21.41 in the semifinals on Thursday.

His semifinal broke the 21.50 set by France's Alain Bernard at the European championships last weekend.

Bernard broke Sullivan's mark of 21.56 set Feb. 17 in the same pool.

Popov's 21.64 came 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."

Libby Trickett, who set a world record in the 100-meter freestyle Thursday, was second in her semifinal heat Friday over 50 meters. The final is Saturday. E-mail to a friend