Schoeman Stalking World Record in 100 Free

TUCSON, Arizona, January 29. NEVER mind that the record has stood since the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. South Africa's Roland Schoeman is confident he can break the world record in the 100-meter freestyle and become just the second man in history to crack the 48-second barrier. The Netherlands' Pieter van den Hoogenband holds the global standard at 47.84.

The third-fastest manin history (48.17), Schoeman finished second in the 100 free at last summer's World Championships in Montreal. The gold medal went to Italy's Filippo Magnini, who checked in with a time of 48.12, making him the second-fastest man in the history of the event. Schoeman will chase the record at the Commonwealth Games, scheduled for March in Melbourne.

"I believe I can go out in 22.4 and come back in 25," Schoeman said in an article that ran in the Herald Sun.

A race split in that fashion, obviously, would obliterate the world record of van den Hoogenband. Certainly, Schoeman will have the competition to push him at the Commonwealth Games. Aside from facing off with countryman Ryk Neethling, Schoeman will battle Australia's Ian Thorpe, back in action after a year-long sabattical from major competition.

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