French sprinter Alain Bernard snatched the Olympic title of the men's 100-meter freestyle in an intense duel with world record holder Australian Eamon Sullivan at the Beijing Games on Thursday.

Bernard won the race in 47.21 seconds, beating Sullivan to the second in 47.32, while American Jason Lezak and Brazilian Cesar Filho Cielo shared the bronze with a time of 47.67.

The defending Olympic champion Pieter van den Hoogenband, from the Netherlands, failed in his quest for a third consecutive win in the event, finishing fifth in 47.75.

Bernard was the second at the first turn after Sullivan, but took over the lead in the second lap. The bulky French, at 1.96 meters tall, leapt upon the lane divider in celebration of his victory, while Sullivan stared at the scoreboard, appearing downcast.

"My legs couldn't help trembling before the race, and that has never happened to me before," Bernard said after the race.

Bernard suffered a blow in his debut race when he was overtaken in the 4X100 freestyle relay by American Lezak, who swam a super 100 to anchor the gold.

"I know I was feeling down after the relay, but I didn't want to get beaten. I have been working for years and years. Thanks to everybody!" Bernard exclaimed.

The French came to the race as the challenger to Sullivan, who stood on the deck as the world record holder, at 47.05 seconds.

"I didn't panic during the race. When I looked at the board I just thought 'Wow, I did it!'" he said.

"Today it was not about the silver medal or the world record. It was about touching the wall," he added.

Bernard and Sullivan has exchanged world records for the event all year, bringing the record down by more than 0.6 second since 2008.

Sullivan broke Bernard's mark of 47.50 seconds on Monday, clocking 47.24 seconds as lead-off swimmer in the men's 4x100m freestyle relay, but Bernard took the record back in 47.20 seconds in the first of Wednesday's semifinals. About three minutes later, Sullivan swam 47.05 seconds and reinstated himself as the record holder.

"Unfortunately Bernard was faster (in the final). Unfortunately I didn't go all the way," Sullivan said.

"I probably used a little more energy than I should have in the first 50 meters. I gave 100 per cent and it wasn't good enough."

"To bounce back after the relay takes a lot of guts, full credit to Alain, he was the better man on the day," he said.

The two will have another face-off in the 50 freestyle, in which Sullivan again holds the world record at 21.28 seconds.

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2008)