Bruijn sinks another Euro mark

ISTANBUL, Aug 1: Holland’s Inge de Bruijn set a European record of 24.84 seconds in her 50-metre freestyle semifinal yesterday, the fifth time she has broken a record at the 24th European Swimming Championships.She lowered her own mark of 24.88s, set last month. Earlier in the day, she set a championship record in the same event.The final is today and the world record is 24.51s, held by Jingyi Le of China and set September 11, 1994.De Bruijn has also broken the European records in the 100-metre free-style and butterfly. She swam a championship record in a 50-metre butterfly heats earlier this week but scratched from the final to concentrate on the 100m.Meanwhile, Pieter Van Den Hoogenband was stymied in his effort to win a record seven gold medals at the Euros when the Netherlands was disqualified in the 800m relay final after finishing first. Italy was also disqualified after finishing second.Germany, which finished third, was awarded the race in 7:19.63, followed by Britain in 7:19.91 and Russia in 7:25.36.On the anchor leg, Hoogenband finished nearly three body lengths ahead. But officials ruled that lead off swimmer Martyn Zuidweg false started by moving on the blocks. Italy was disqualified because Andrea Beccari, swimming the second leg, left early.