Record-breaker Bernard powers on

By Derek Parr

EINDHOVEN, Netherlands (Reuters) - Frenchman Alain Bernard, who lowered the world 100 metres freestyle record twice in the last two days, brushed aside all rivals in the 50 freestyle heats at the European championships on Sunday.

Bernard clocked 21.97 seconds in the one-length sprint, way faster than the 22.23 in which Olympic silver medallist Duje Draganja of Croatia won his heat for the second-best overall time.

Sweden's Stefan Nystrand, silver medallist in Saturday's 100 freestyle final when Bernard bettered his own world mark from 47.60 to 47.50, won his heat in 22.25 to progress to the evening's semi-finals as the third-fastest qualifier.

Marleen Veldhuis, two gold medals already in her possession, targeted a third as she sped to the fastest women's 50 freestyle heat time of 24.47, opening the prospect of an attack on Inge de Bruijn's 24.13 world record in the semi-finals.

Veldhuis anchored the world record breaking Dutch 4x100 freestyle relay on Tuesday and won the 100 freestyle on Thursday.