Foster Breaks World Record Twice
1998-12-14

Mark Foster had a spectacular final day at the European SC Champs when he broke the World Record in the 50 freestyle not once but twice. Foster set the record in the heats beating the previous record set by Alexander Popov by just 2/100 ths of a second with a time of 21.48.

In the evening final Foster broke the record again making it twice in one day. His time in the final was 21.31. Mark Veens and Pieter vdHoogenband of the Netherlands were 2nd and 3rd with times of 21.79 and 21.87.

The mens 1500 free was won by Graeme Smith with a time of 14:42.29. Igor Snitko of the Ukraine was second in 14:51.70, and Italian, Emiliano Brembilla was third in 14:53.45.

Stev Theloke of Germany won the 100m back with a time of 52.71. Darius Grigalionis of Lithuania and Eithan Urbach of Israel were 2nd and 3rd with times of 53.41 and 53.64. A surprise in 4th was 17 year old Orn Arnarson of Iceland. His time in the final was 53.71. He surprised by qualifying first in the prelims.

In the mens 100 butterfly James Hickman established a new World Record time of 51.02 in the prelims. He later won the finals in a time of 51.04 just ahead of Lars Frolander who finished 2nd in a time of 51.11. Denis Silantiev was 3rd in a time of 51.67.

The Swedish mens relay team established a World Best time in the 4x50 Medley Relay with a time of 1:35.51.

World Records also fell in the womens events. Sandra Volker of Germany established a new World Recprd in the 50 back with a time of 27.27. Positions for 2nd, 3rd and 4th were very tight with Theresa Alshammar of Sweden just touching out Alena Nyvltova of the Czech Republic by 1/100th of a second. There times were 28.46 and 28.47. In a close fourth was Anna Kopatchenia of Belarus with a time of 28.52.

Martina Moravcova of Slovakia established a new European Record in the womens 200 Free with a time of 1:55.12. In 2nd was Franziska van Almsick in a time of 1:57.06 in 3rd was Louise Johncke in 1:57.39.

Denmark had a 1 - 2 finish in the womens 200 butterfly with Sophia Skou, 2:07.65 winning the event followed by teammate Mette Jacobsen 2:07.92. In third was Johanna Sjoberg of Sweden in a time of 2:08.21.

Germany's women established a World Best time in the 4x50 Medley Relay with a time of 1:50.13.

Final results of the European SC Champs from Sheffield, GBR and the Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand. Both are now posted in our Meet Results section. A medals table is also available for the European Champs.