ANTWERP - One World, a world best relay time, three European and eigth championships records were established on the first night of the European Short Course Championships on Thursday afternoon.

Emma Igelstrom, 21 (SWE) was in unbeatable form as she improved in each of the three rounds in the 50 breaststroke. In the morning she qualified first with 31.23, then at start of the finals session she improved on that with a 30.72 in the semi-finals and then powered her way in the final to a 30.56. That time equals the pending world record by two Chinese girls from a week ago.

"I was expecting this," Igelstrom said. "I didn't think my semi-finals were so good. I know I can still do much better. I want to be the sole holder of the World record. I am very motivated." On swimming against European record holder Brigitte Becue (BEL) in the 100 breaststroke, "I have a great deal of admiration for Becue. I'm hoping to beat her."

Top performance for the first day was by Stefan Nystrand, SWE in winning the 50 freestyle for the second year in a row in 21.15, just 2/100ths off the World record. "I didn