RIJEKA - The records continued to tumble on the last day at the European championships in Rijeka, Croatia.

Another two world records and a European mark were set during this morning's heats of the short-course championships.

Frenchman Amaury Leveaux broke the men's 50 metres butterfly world record, timing 22.18 seconds.

Leveaux's improved his previoius record of 22.29 seconds, set in Angers on December 6.

World record evolution (Time, Name/Nationality, Place, Date):
22.18 Leveaux Amaury FRA Rijeka 14.12.08
22.29 Leveaux Amaury FRA Angers 06.12.08
22.50 Jaukovic Matt AUS Sydney 25.10.08
22.60 Kaio Marcio de Almeida BRA 15.12.07
22.71 Crocker Ian USA Indianapolis 10.10.04

France team (Alain Bernard, Fabien Gilot, Antoine Galavtine, Frederick Bousquet) set a world best in the 4x50 freestyle relay leading the heats with the time of 1:22.38.

Also Italy was under the previous mark, ranked 2nd in 1:24.14.

World record evolution (Time, Team/Nationality, Place, Date):
1:22.38 France FRE Rijeka 14.12.08
1:24.19 Sweden SWE Debrecen 16.12.07
1:24.89 Sweden SWE Helsinki 10.12.06
1:25.03 Netherland NED Trieste 11.12.05
1:25.55 Netherland NED Dublin 14.12.03
1:25.87 United States USA East Meadow 20.10.01

Earlier, Alexandra Putra of France broke the European record for the women’s 200 metres backstroke.

She finished in a time of 2:02.36 seconds, taking 0.24 seconds off Briton Elizabeth Simmonds’ mark set at the world championships in Manchester.

European record evolution (Time, Name/Nationality, Place, Date):
2:02.36 Putra Alexandra FRA 14.12.08
2:02.60 Simmonds Elizabeth GBR 11.04.08
2:04.08 Baron Esther FRA Helsinki 10.12.06
2:04.23 Buschschulte Antje GER Dublin 14.12.03
2:04.44 Price Sarah GBR Perth 06.08.01

Also see:

Bernard, Balmy, Leveaux set world records at French Nationals
Dec 7, 2008

More record fall at World Championships
Apr 11, 2008

Euro Rec for Gyurta, Efimova and Euro Best for Sweden
Dec 16, 2007