Alain Bernard of France broke the 100 metres freestyle short-course world record at the French national championships in Angers on Sunday.

Alain Bernard of France reacts after his men's 100m freestyle semi-final at the European Swimming Championships in Eindhoven March 21, 2008.[Agencies]

Bernard, who won the long course gold at the Beijing Games, clocked 45.69 seconds to better by 0.14 seconds the record Swede Stefan Nystrand set in Berlin in 2007.

"I felt we got off to a quick start so I just hung on," Bernard, who beat Amaury Leveaux, the 50 metres freestyle silver medallist in Beijing, told Eurosport.

"I didn't come for that, I just wanted to win but the record is there.

"This morning, I was confident, I wanted to enjoy myself."

(Agencies via China Daily December 9, 2008)