France's Alain Bernard turned the tables on world record holder Eamon Sullivan of Australia to win the gold medal in the Men's 100m Freestyle, in a fascinating battle at the National Aquatics Center on Thursday. Sullivan and Bernard exchanged world records on Wednesday with Sullivan responding to Bernard's world record of 47.20 in the first semifinal by lowering the mark another 0.15 to 47.05 in the second semifinal. On Thursday Bernard enjoyed the last laugh, claiming the gold medal in a time of 47.21.
Sullivan was 0.04 outside world record pace at the 50m mark and looked comfortable, only to tire and let Bernard bring the race home to the wall-touch first and relegate Sullivan to the silver medal in a time of 47.32.
Sunday's hero in the Men's 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay, 32-year-old Jason Lezak of the United States won the bronze in 47.67.
Olympic champion Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands, who recorded his quickest time in eight years to qualify for the final, failed in his quest for a record three straight 100m Olympic titles, finishing fifth in 47.75.
The battle between Bernard and Sullivan resumes on Thursday in the heats of the Men's 50m Freestyle - and that tussle should be even fiercer.
Surprisingly, the joint world champions from 2007, Filipo Magnini of Italy and Brent Hayden of Canada, both failed to contest the final after they were knocked out in the semifinals.
