Sullivan smashes 50m freestyle world record

　　SYDNEY, March 27, 2008 - Australia's Eamon Sullivan regained the 50-metre freestyle world record with a time of 21.41 seconds at the national Olympic trials here on Thursday -- and then said he could go even faster.

　　Frenchman Alain Bernard held the record for just four days, with his 21.50 secs at the European championships lowering Sullivan's previous mark of 21.56 set in Sydney in February.

　　After missing out on Bernard's 100m record late on Wednesday, Sullivan said he hoped to improve his 50m time in Friday's final.

　　"I came in a bit more relaxed tonight, having got the 100m final out of the way last night and getting into the team for Beijing," Sullivan said moments after climbing out of the pool.

　　"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.

　　"I know I have another swim left so there's always another chance.

　　"I hope I can go faster in the final, but I like to think I can take a couple of a hundredths of a second leading into a final, so we'll see."

　　Sullivan missed Bernard's 100m world record by just two-hundredths of a second in qualifying in 47.52secs for the Olympics at the Australian trials.