Klim Breaks World Record Again!

First Man Ever Under 52 Seconds in the 100m Fly

Canberra, Australia – Australian Swimming’s “butterflying machine” Michael Klim broke the world record in the 100 meter butterfly for the second time in three days with an awesome solo performance at the AIS meet in Canberra. Klim became the first swimmer in history to break 52 seconds when he clocked 51.81 – taking 0.22 seconds off the time he established on Friday.

The “Amazing Klim” now owns the fastest five times in the history of the event – three of them swum over the past three days. On Friday Klim broke his own world record when he lowered his previous world record from 52.15 to 52.03 in a solo swim and then yesterday he clocked the third fastest time in history to beat Geoff Huegill, Burl Reid and William Kirby in the 100m butterfly final at the AIS Meet in a time of 52.24 before his solo effort at the completion of the third day’s competition at the AIS today.

Klim’s performance today follows world record solo swims by Penny Heyns and Lenny Krayzelburg during this year’s Qantas Pan Pacific Championships in Sydney and Klim’s 50m butterfly solo swim at the end of the Telstra Australian Short Course Championships in Canberra in September. A FINA ruling now allows solo swims to be conducted as part of a recognized, sanctioned swim meet.

The 22-year-old world champion has certainly served notice to the world that he means business at next year’s Olympic Games in Sydney. Klim was ecstatic after his 13th world record since 1997 saying: “I guess this is my masterpiece…I’m going to hang it on the wall look at it for a few months and then continue painting it next year.

“The difference between last Friday, yesterday and today was relaxation. I actually went out and celebrated my world record last night and arrived at the pool feeling as relaxed as I have ever felt and that’s important. “I had everything to gain today and nothing to lose and I suppose everything went right today…I didn’t hit the lane ropes and even though I was stretched at the end I finished on a full stroke.” Klim admitted the small AIS crowd really spurred him on down the final 50 meters and got him to the wall. His sister Anna and coach Gennadi Touretski were poolside to congratulate the 22-year-old world beater with hugs and kisses from Anna and high-fives from coach Touretski. There will be no time for celebration tonight. Klim will be joined by Australian team mates Geoff Huegill, Scott Miller, Burl Reid and William Kirby at an intensive National Butterfly Camp in Canberra this week. He will then contest round two of the Uncle Tobys Supercharge, part of the One Summer Series at Coolangatta Beach next Saturday afternoon.

In other events today US Open champion and former world record holder Rebecca Brown won the women’s 200m breaststroke in 2:29.93, faster than her time in Texas. Albury’s Clementine Stoney continued her good recent form, winning the women’s 200m backstroke in 2:14.62 and world short course champion Josh Watson completed the backstroke double adding the 200m backstroke in 2:01.01 to the Australian record in the 50m in 25.76 and his 100m backstroke win in 55.90.

Klim will be joined by Penny Heyns, Lenny Krayzelburg, Jenny Thompson, Alex Popov and Ian Thorpe for the Qantas World Cup Meets in Hobart, January 13 and 14 and Sydney January 17 and 18.

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