FACTBOX-World 100 freestyle record holder Bernard

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

* 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 metres 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

* Bernard becomes the first Frenchman to hold the 100 metre freestyle world record since Alain Gootvalles, who broke the record in 1964. (Compiled by Patrick Vignal: editing by Miles Evans)