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SYDNEY, Australia, October 25. IT took until the third stop of the FINA World Cup, but a world record finally went down on the first night of the Sydney, Australia portion of the series.
Matt Jaukovic of Australia wowed the partisan crowd with a smoking fast time of 22.50 to clear Kaio Almeida of Brazil's global standard of 22.60 set in 2005. It also downed Adam Pine's national record of 22.70 set in 2008.
Garth Kates placed second in 23.49, while Chris Wright took third in 23.67.
Here is a release from Swimming Australia on the world record with some detailed information on Jaukovic's background:
Australia unearthed its latest world record holder when 22-year-old Sydney University student Matt Jaukovic set a new world mark in the 50 metres butterfly on the opening night of the FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre tonight.
Jaukovic, clocked a sizzling 22.50 seconds to take 0.10 seconds off the previous world record, set by Brazil's Kaio Almeida in December 2005 to earn him 1039 points in the race for the $US100,000 overall prize money.
Born in Montenegro, the NSWIS scholarship holder, came to Australia three years ago to study Economics and Law which has dominated most of his time – until now.
He will continue to juggle his studies with his swimming career, with laps of the pool taking more of a focus, as he eyes off an Olympic berth in 2012.
Tonight's swim was his first for Australia and he will now embark on the remaining four FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cups in Singapore, Moscow, Stockholm and Berlin.
And the brilliant butterflyer, who earnt a $US10,000 world record bonus on top of his $US1,500 win money, believes he can lower the record even further.
"I actually made a few mistakes – I was long on the wall at the turn and the finish – so I have some improvements to make," said an elated Jaukovic.
"I believed I could swim around that time and I'm just so happy to break the world record with my aunty and uncle in the grandstand.
"I am looking forward to racing again in the rest of the Series and depending on how I handle the travelling then maybe I can swim faster."
In an all-Australian finish, two other Australians Garth Kates (23.49) finished second with Chris Wright (23.67) third.
Jaukovic is the third Australian to hold the 50 metres short course world record alongside Olympic medallists Michael Klim (1999) and Geoff Huegill (2001, 2002).