BERLIN, Aug 2: Oleg Lisogor of Ukraine claimed his second gold medal in a world record time in the men’s 50 metres breaststroke on another eventful day at the European swimming championships on Friday.

The world champion clocked 27.18 seconds in the fast Berlin pool, erasing the previous best mark of 27.39 seconds set by American Ed Moses in March 2001 in Austin, Texas.

The 23-year-old, who had started his championships campaign by winning the 100 metres breaststoke title on Tuesday, said he had exceeded his own expectations.

“Before the race I was not sure I would be able to swim a world record,” he said. “But after the halfway point I felt very good.

Lisogor made a flying start and was never challenged with Hungary’s Mihaly Flaskay coming a distant second in 27.51 and Karoly Guttler of Hungary taking the bronze in 27.85.

“I did not have a good finish,” said Lisogor before warning he could go faster.

“During the race it felt close to perfect but my touch was not that good,” he said. “I think I can swim under 27 seconds.”

Lisogor set the third world record of the championships, which started with the German quartet anchored by Franziska van Almsick winning the women’s 4x100 metres relay in a world best three minutes 42.71 seconds on Monday.

Sweden’s Anna-Karin Kammerling beat the women’s 50 metres butterfly mark in 25.57 seconds the next day.

“The pool is very fast,” said Lisogor, who set a short course world record at a World Cup meeting in Berlin in January.—Reuters