Cielo is best: Brazilian knocks off France’s Bernard, sets world record in 100 free at worlds

Cielo takes down Bernard in 100 free with WR

ROME — Brazil’s Cesar Cielo has become the first swimmer to break 47 seconds in the 100-meter freestyle, setting another world record and holding off France’s Alain Bernard at the world championships.

Cielo won the furious down-and-back race in 46.91 seconds on Thursday. He eclipsed Eamon Sullivan’s mark of 47.05 set during the semifinals of the Beijing Olympics.

Bernard won the Olympic gold when he beat Sullivan in the final. He had to settle for silver in Rome at 47.12. Fellow Frenchman Fred Bousquet pushed the pace over the first 50 and held on for bronze in 47.25.

Cielo’s record was the 25th of these championships, matching the total from last summer’s Olympics with three days still to go.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

ROME (AP) — With Michael Phelps cheering from the stands, Ryan Lochte of the United States set a world record in the 200-meter individual medley Thursday at the world championships.

Lochte won in 1 minute, 54.10 seconds. Shortly after he finished, Canada’s Annanmay Pierse set the 24th world record of these championships in the semifinals of the 200 breaststroke.

Lochte broke Phelps’ gold-medal time of 1:54.23 from the Beijing Olympics. Phelps skipped this event at the worlds, but he was in the stands with the rest of the American team.

Laszlo Cseh of the Hungary took the silver in 1:55.24, and American Eric Shanteau captured his first major international medal with a bronze in 1:55.36. Shanteau competed at last year’s Olympics after being diagnosed with testicular cancer.

Pierse’s time of 2:20.12 in the second heat beat the mark of 2:20.22 held by American Rebecca Soni. Soni won the first heat and will get a chance to reclaim her mark in a head-to-head showdown Friday.