Bernard Clocks 48.07 In Last Blast Before Beijing
2008-06-27
Craig Lord
In Scotland, the world record holder remains consistent; Manaudou prepares for last 400m race before defending Olympic crown; Italian club where she was based closes down

Alain Bernard (FRA), world record holder in the 100m freestyle, has raced his last two-lapper before Beijing, clocking 48.07 at the Scottish Nationals in Tollcross pool, Glasgow.

The Antibes sprinter has built up a level of consistency - on a higher plain - over the past 12 months, racing to 48.20 at the Paris Open last week. Prior to the US trials, the Frenchman is destined to arrive in China the favourite for gold in the 100m and a medal favourite in the 50m.

Bernard turned in 22.79, the aim to "e;remind him what it feels like to go out fast"e;, coach Denis Auguin told L'Equipe. At French trials, he had gone out in 21.97, the sort of time Olympic 50m crowns were won in in the days before the LZR was born.

Here are the 10 best times of the golden favourite:


47.50 (WR) March 2008
47.60 March 2008
47.82 April 2008
48.04 April 2008
48.07 June 2008
48.12 June 2007
48.20 June 2008
48.41 June 2008
48.54 August 2007
48.56 June 2007

His latest effort did not quite reach the all-time 10 performances, of which he owns three:


47.50 Bernard
47.52 Sullivan (AUS)
47.55 Sullivan
47.60 Bernard
47.82 Bernard
47.84 Van den Hoogenband (NED)
47.86 Van den Hoogenband
47.91 Nystrand (SWE)
47.97 Van den Hoogenband
48.02 Gilot (FRA)

Elsewhere, Coralie Balmy (FRA) clocked 1:58.25 to take the 200m freestyle ahead of teammate Camille Muffat, on 1:58.30, with medley ace Hannah Miley (GBR) on 1:59.32.

Tomorrow, Laure Manaudou races her last 400m freestyle before she travels to China to defend her Olympic crown. Meanwhile, LaPresse Turin, the Italian club where she was based after leaving France for love last summer, is closing down its swimming operation, the president who will no longer be president, Marco Durante, announced. The club lost its financial support in the wake of the debacle over Manaudou and Luca Marin, her former boyfriend and Italian medley international. 'Even Fiat, our main partner, ended its agreement,' he told reporters. The biggest legacy of the club will be its impact on the fastest middle distance freestyle swimmer the world had ever seen - until 2008.