SYDNEY - Australia's Libby Lenton has set a new women's 100 metres freestyle world record at the Duel in the Pool meet in Sydney today.

Lenton clocked 52.99 seconds to became the first woman to break 53sec barrier.

She was racing against Michael Phelps during a mixed relay and this caused doubt over the record ratification, due to the American could be seen as pacing Lenton.
Phelps was timed 48.72, off a 23.96 split.

The previous world record of 53.30 was set by Germany's Britta Steffen at last year's Europeans in Budapest.