Uruguayan swimmer Marin Kutscher said Sunday that he was happy for breaking his own national record in the 200m free.

Kutscher timed in 1:49.6, almost seven tenth under his previous record at the Beijing Olympic Games. However, he was not able to make the semi finals.

Kutscher told local daily El Observador "I never imagined a time like this" with a smile in his face.

"I'm very, very happy with this time!" he said, "it was incredible to exit with course, lift the head and see the stadium full. That is not seen in any other stadium in the world," Kutscher said.

Kutscher said he feels confident for the 100m free on Tuesday, which is his specialty, and he will seek to break his national record of 49:86 while he admitted it was "very difficult" to make to the semifinals.

(Xinhua News Agency August 11, 2008)