SYDNEY, Australia — Australian Eamon Sullivan broke the 50-meter freestyle world record today, finishing in 21.56 seconds to better the mark set by Russian Alexander Popov in 2000.

Sullivan took 0.08 seconds off the previous record while swimming in the New South Wales Open meet held at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Center, site of the 2000 Olympics.

Popov set the previous mark of 21.64 seconds in Moscow on June 16, 2000.

Sullivan took nearly a half-second off his personal best time.

"I just surprised myself," the 22-year-old Sullivan said. "Felt really, really good in the warmup and working towards getting under 22 for the first time.

"We have made some big gains in the gym and I knew if I put bits of my best race together we would be in for a shot at the 22. To take that much off my PB is amazing."

Australian head coach Alan Thompson praised Sullivan.

"That was great, to break a world record of one of the legends of the sport and a long-term world record," he said.