BEIJING - Kosuke Kitajima of Japan smashed the men's 100m breaststroke world record touching in 58.91 (28.03) in the final on Monday.

The previous record of 59.13 was held by American Brendan Hansen (today 4th in 59.57) who set the mark in Irvine, on August 2006.

Kitajima is the only man to go under the 59-second barrier in the 100m breaststroke.

European record holder Alexander Dale Own won silver in 59.20: it is the first medal that Norway have ever won in the pool.