ANTWERP, Dec 14: Two world records were broken and another equalled in stirring action on the opening day of the European short-course swimming championships Thursday.

World and Olympic champion Yana Klochkova of Ukraine continued a remarkable run of victories but there was defeat for another Olympic star - flying Dutchman Pieter van den Hoogenband.

The 19-year-old Klochkova retained her 200 metres individual medley title in a time of 2:09.52, while the German men’s 4x50 metres individual medley team bettered their own world record they had set earlier in the semifinals.

Sweden’s Emma Igelstrom also equalled the world record in the women’s 50 metres breaststroke.

Klochkova was made to work hard for her victory and was trailing second-placed Nicole Hetzer of Germany until the final length.

But her power in the freestyle proved decisive and she overtook her rival with just 20 metres to go.

At these championships last year Klochkova scooped 100,000 German marks ($45,000) for winning the same event in the four major championships of 2000.

Hetzer finished in 2:09.70 while Alenka Kejzar of Slovenia was third more than a second back in 2:10.82.

In the final swim of the day, the German men’s medley team of Stev Theloke, Mark Warnecke, Thomas Rupprath and Carsten Dehmlow set their new world record with a time of 1:34.78. In the morning they had clocked 1:35.14.

The British team smashed their own national record to finish second in the final in 1:35.19 while Sweden were third in 1:35.68.

Igelstrom, who set a new championship best in the semis, equalled the world record mark of 30.56 set by China’s Luo Xue and Li Wei in Shanghai 10 days ago when Iglestrom finished third.

Germany’s Janne Schaffer finished second on Thursday in 30.92 with Austria’s Vera Lischka third in 31.37.

In the men’s 50 metres freestyle sprint, holder Stefan Nystrand of Sweden broke the championship record with a time of 21.15 to hold on to his title.

Nystrand finished ahead of Ukraine’s Olexandr Volinets, second in 21.60, while Van Hoogenband had to settle for third in 21.65.

Britain’s world short-course champion Foster finished back in fourth in 21.66.

The championship record also fell in the men’s 200 metres individual medley when Slovenia’s Peter Mankoc won in a time of 1:56.18.

The men’s 400 metres freestyle was won by Emiliano Brembilla of Italy in 3:41.27, while Croatia’s Gordan Kozulj won the men’s 200 backstroke in 1:53.37.—Reuters