ST RAPHAEL (France), June 26: France’s Alain Bernard became the joint second fastest 100m freestyler of all time late Monday clocking 48.12s seconds to win the title at the French National Championships.

Only Pieter Van den Hoogenband has gone faster, the Dutchman having set the world record in swimming’s blue riband at even of 47.84 in winning the 2000 Olympics title at Sydney.

Bernard’s time is equal second best with the time of Italy’s Filippo Magnini set at the 2005 World Championships in Montreal.

The 24-year-old Frenchman has made huge strides this year since changing his coaching setup and had improved the French record twice already in recent weeks.

He has yet to shine at a major international swimming championship, but Bernard said his record swim would act as a huge confidence booster.

“Now I really want to take things a step further. I know I can do it,” he said referring to Van Hoogenband’s world record time.

“People say I am a late developer, but I am not interested in comparing myself to others. I just concentrate on myself and we will see where that takes me.”

—AFP