European Championships, Budapest, day 7 finals:
Men 50m freestyle
Fred Bousquet cracked the textile best this morning in a storming 21.36sec. This evening under balmy skies and under pressure from rivals and circumstances he was a touch slower, on 21.49 but champion of Europe. Silver went to Stefan Nystrand (SWE), on 21.69, close to that 21.64 Alex-Popov benchmark that had stood for so long, bronze to Fabien Gilot, who gave Gaul a second medal in 21.76. Bousquet was all blast and roll as he straight-armed his way to victory and extended the reputation of France's sprint crew. Currently working with Romain Barnier in Budapest, Bousquet has yet to decide which French programme he will race for next season after announcing a split from Max Cornellier at Marseilles just before the championships began.
Bousquet spend some of his time at Auburn with coach Brett Hawke, whose other pack-busting sprint force is Olympic champion and world record holder Cesar Cielo (BRA).
History unfolding:
Effect on race on all-time top 10: 0
Euro podiums:
- 2010: 21.49 - 21.76
- 2008: 21.66 - 22.16
- 2006: 21.88 - 22.14
Euro finals:
- 2010: 21.49 - 22.38
- 2008: 21.66 - 22.75
- 2006: 21.88 - 22.55
- Most Euro wins: Popov, 5
- Most Titles/Nation: RUS, 5 (plus 1, URS)
- Tightest Podium: 1987 - gold to bronze - 0.09
From the archive: In Moscow 30 days after retaining the Olympic 50m and 100m freestyle crowns, Alexander Popov was stabbed in the stomach after intervening in a fight between a friend and a watermelon seller. The knife penetrated 15cms, damaging the pleura, the membrane that encases the lungs, missing a kidney by the edge of a blade and slicing an artery. Emergency surgery was followed by three months in rehabilitation. The incident changed his life: Popov was baptised in an orthodox church shortly after the stabbing. In Seville at the 1997 European Championships, his amazing recovery was confirmed when he claimed both sprint crowns and said: "My soul wasn't damaged, my brain wasn't damaged, only my body." Courtesy of Popov, Russia lead the all-time title count, on 5, since 1987.
Records
Shiny suit era
- WR 20.91 Cesar Cielo (BRA) Dec 2009
- ER 20.94 Frederick Bousquet (FRA) Apr 2009
February 1 2008
- WR/ER 21.64 Alex Popov (RUS) Jun 2000
