Eamon Sullivan came agonisingly close to breaking the 100 metres freestyle world record at the Australian Olympic trials on Wednesday. The 22-year-old from Western Australia stopped the clock at 47.52 seconds, just 0.02 outside the world record set by Alain Bernard of France at the European championships last weekend.
Matthew Targett finished second in 48.36 as the first four finishers all broke 49 seconds to provide Australia with renewed hope of winning the relay at the Olympics after the retirements of Ian Thorpe and Michael Klim.
Jessicah Schipper also weakened on the last lap to fall 1.42 short of her own world record for the women's 200 butterfly, winning in 2:06.82 from 17-year-old Samantha Hamill (2:07.61).
Brenton Rickard won the 200 breaststroke final in 2:09.51, while world record holder Leisel Jones topped the qualifiers for the women's event by winning her semifinal in 2:25.00.
World champion Libby Trinkett (nee Lenton) decided not to wear her new suit in the 100 freestyle semifinals and had to settle for second fastest behind 15-year-old Cate Campbell but said she was saving her best for the final.