Flash! Manaudou Breaks 400 Free World Record

By Emily Mason

TOURS, France. May, 12. IT'S all over. Janet Evans' long-standing mark of 4:03.85 in the 400-meter freestyle is no more after Laure Manaudou's performance of 4:03.03 at the French Championships. Evans' record had stood since 1988.

Since winning three medals at the Athens Olympics, including gold in the 400 free, Manaudou has been viewed as the favorite to take down Evans' standard. Her effort at the French Championships marked her third win of the meet, complementing gold in the 800 free and 400 individual medley.

“I want to congratulate Laure on a fantastic swim,” Evans told The Associated Press. “I never felt that the record was mine, but that it belonged to all of the friends, family and coaches that helped me achieve it.”

Her splits:
28.03 58.30 (30.27)
1:28.90 (30.60) 2:00.00 (31.10)
2:30.85 (30.85) 3:02.07 (31.22)
3:33.05 (30.98) 4:03.03 (29.98)

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