BERLIN - Germany's Britta Steffen set a world record in the women's 100 metres freestyle at the national championships on Thursday, finishing in 52.85 seconds.

During the morning’s heat the 25-year-old Steffen (SG Neukölln Berlin) broke the mark of 52.88 by Australia's Lisbeth Trickett, set at the national championships on March 2008 in Sydney.

Her previous best time was 53.05, a European record set in Magdeburg a year ago.

World record evolution (Time, Name/Nationality, Place, Date):
52.85 Britta Steffen GER Berlin 25.06.09
52.88 Lisbeth Trickett AUS Sydney 27.03.08
53.30 Britta Steffen GER Budapest 02.08.06
53.42 Lisbeth Trickett AUS Melbourne 31.01.06
53.52 Lisbeth Trickett AUS Athens 18.08.04
53.66 Lisbeth Trickett AUS sydney 31.03.04

European record evolution (Time, Name/Nationality, Place, Date):
52.85 Britta Steffen GER Berlin 25.06.09
53.05 Britta Steffen GER Magdeburg 22.04.08
53.30 Britta Steffen GER Budapest 02.08.06
53.77 Inge de Bruijn NED Sydney 20.09.00
53.80 Inge de Bruijn NED Sheffield 29.05.00
54.57 Franziska van Almsick GER Sheffield 03.08.93
54.73 Kristin Otto GDR Madrid 19.08.86

Also see:

Steffen breaks 100m European record again
Jul 20, 2008

Lenton smashes 100m freestyle world record
Mar 27, 2008