MONTPELLIER, France, (Reuters) – France’s Alain  Bernard clocked a world record for the 100 metres freestyle in  46.94 seconds in the semi-finals of the French swimming  championships yesterday.

Olympic champion Bernard became the first man to break the  47-second barrier for the blue-riband event, beating the  previous record of 47.05 seconds set by Australian Eamon  Sullivan in the semi-finals at last year’s Beijing Games.

The record’s ratification, however, could be a problem  because Bernard was using a new type of suit pending approval  from swimming authorities.
Bernard had briefly held the 100 metres world record in  Beijing, clocking 47.20 in his semi-final, but Sullivan took it  straight back. The 25-year-old Bernard then completed his remarkable rise  from obscurity by winning the Olympic final.