European Championships, Budapest, Day 2 finals

Men's 100m breaststroke

Alex Dale Oen (NOR) hated the shiny suits and couldn't wait for them to be gone. The 2008 champion and pioneer for Norway in Eindhoven is 100m breaststroke king once more in Budapest, with a 59.20 championships record. Out in 27.69, half a second up on the next through, the Norwegian piled on the pace and pressure all the way home, maintaining stroke until he stopped the clock a champ once more after a relative down year in the midst of the suits crisis.  Head, shoulders and body ahead of the pack, he was head and shoulders ahead on technique and applied strength too. 

The world record stood at 59.13 to Brendan Hansen (USA) on the eve of non-textile suits.

Dale Oen, coached by Stig Legander Hansen in Bergen, said: Prior to the European Championships I wanted to swim under the minute. After yesterday's good result in heats I wanted to improve that. My main focus was the 100 - but now we'll wait and see what I can do in the 50m and 200."

The silver medal went to Hugues Duboscq (FRA) in 1:00.15, the bronze to Fabio Scozzoli (ITA). in 1:00.41. 

History unfolding:

Effect on race on all-time top 10: 0

Euro podiums:

• 2010: 59.20cr - 1:00.41
• 2008: 59.76 - 1:00.53
• 2006: 1:00.61 - 1:00.64

Euro finals:

• 2010: 59.20cr - 1:01.31
• 2008: 59.76 - 1:02.12
• 2006: 1:00.61 - 1:01.48
• Most Euro wins:  Adrian Moorhouse (GBR), 3
• Most Titles/Nation: URS, 4 
• Tightest Podium:  2006 - gold to bronze - 0.03sec

From the archive: Since the event was introduced in 1970, four men have won the crown twice but only one of those won it three times: 1988 Olympic champion Adrian Moorhouse (GBR). From 1985 to 1987 and then 1989, Moorhouse got faster with each passing victory. on his way to that last win in Bonn, Germany, the Yorkshireman set his first world record, of 1:01.49, in heats. The time would haunt him somewhat: He equalled his own world record twice - and when Norbert Rozsa stepped up in 1991 to claim the crown 0.39sec ahead of Moorhouse, the Hungarian's winning time was ... 1:01.49. Two decades later, Moorhouse will be in on the action in Budapest 2010 once more: as a commentator for BBC television alongside fellow Olympic medallist, Andrew Jameson, 1987 European 100m butterfly champion ahead of legendary Michael Gross, The Albatross.    

Records

Shiny suit era

• WR: 58.58 Brenton Rickard (AUS) Jul 2009
• ER:  58.64 Hugues Duboscq (FRA) Jul 2009

February 1  2008

• WR: 59.13 Brendan Hansen (USA) Aug 2006
• ER: 59.94 Roman Sludnov (RUS) Jul 2001