FACTBOX-World 100 freestyle record holder Bernard

(Reuters) - Factbox on Frenchman Alain Bernard, who broke his own men's 100 meters freestyle world record at the European Championships in Eindhoven, Netherlands on Saturday.

* Born May 1, 1983 in Aubagne, France. Started competing when he was eight. Was a backstroke specialist as a teenager but was convinced by coach Denis Auguin to switch to freestyle.

* Admires Russian swimmer Alexander Popov.

* He stands 1.96 meters tall and has an armspread of 2.05. Says recurrent back pain has forced him to concentrate on having a perfect technique.

* Missed the 2004 Athens Olympics because of mononucleosis (glandular fever).

* Broke the 50-second barrier for 100 freestyle for the first time at the 2005 French championships.

* At the 2007 French championships he beat the French 100 record for the third time in a few months, clocking 48:12, which put him joint third with Italy's Filippo Magnini on the all-time list.

* Wins the European short-course 100 freestyle in Debrecen, Hungary, last December

* March 21, 2008: Bernard becomes the first Frenchman to hold the 100 meters freestyle world record since Alain Gootvalles, who broke it in 1964.

He clocks 47.60 seconds at the European Championships in Eindhoven, Netherlands to beat the mark set by Dutchman Pieter van den Hoogenband at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

* March 22, 2008: Bernard breaks his own world record to secure the gold medal at the European Championships in 47.50 seconds.

(Compiled by Patrick Vignal: editing by Ken Ferris)