Italy's Federica Pellegrini ended with a world record in the 400 metres freestyle, bringing to six the number of world marks lowered at this competition, after a false start in the 200m.

France's Alain Bernard finally ran out of records. After setting three on consecutive nights, he fell just short of a fourth when he won the men's 50m free in the meet's final session on Monday.

And over at the Australian Olympic trials in Sydney yesterday, Stephanie Rice broke the 200m individual medley world record with a time of 2min 8.92sec.

She knocked 0.80sec off the previous record held by China's Wu Yan Yan, set in Shanghai in 1997.

It was Rice's second world record at the national trials, having broken the 400m IM mark on the opening night last Saturday.

'It's beyond comprehension. The 200m IM world record has stood for a long, long time,' said the 19-year-old sensation. 'It's beyond my expectations.'

Veldhuis, a former water polo player, delighted the hometown capacity crowd at the National Swim Centre by triumphing in the 50m free in 24.09, lowering the record of 24.13 set by compatriot Inge de Bruijn at the 2000 Olympics.

De Bruijn presented Veldhuis with a bunch of red tulips at the medal ceremony. The ex-Olympic champion bowed and pressed her palms together, as if in prayer after giving Veldhuis the bouquet.

'I'm now the fastest woman in the water - long and short course,' Veldhuis said. 'I thought I swam the perfect race yesterday, but I managed to go quicker.'

She led a Dutch 1-2, with Hinkelien Schreuder finishing 0.5sec back. Sweden's Therese Alshammar was third in 24.71.

On the first night, Veldhuis anchored the Dutch team to a world record in the 400m free relay. She also won the 100m free title.

Pellegrini recovered from her 200m disqualification to win the 400m free in 4:01.53, eclipsing the 2006 world mark of 4:02.13 set by France's Laure Manaudou.

France's Coralie Balmy was second in 4:04.15 and Romania's Camelia Potec third in 4:05.62.

Bernard surged to victory in the men's 50m free, but the 24-year-old Frenchman's time of 21.66 was slower than the world mark of 21.50 he set in Sunday's semi-finals.

Croatia's Duje Draganja was second in 22.00 and Sweden's Stefan Nystrand third in 22.16.

On Friday and Saturday, Bernard twice lowered the 100m free record.

'Today, my aim was to win the title. After three crazy days, it was difficult to remain mentally sane,' he said.

Hungary's Laszlo Cseh completed an individual medley double, breaking his own European record to win the 400m in 4:09.59 after claiming the 200m last week.

Briton Thomas Daley, 13, won the men's 10m platform diving competition.

The teenager blushed, jumped up and down, and put his hands over his face in delight as Sascha Klein of Germany failed to overtake him in the standings with his sixth and final dive.

Daley had been virtually assured of victory with his fifth dive, a back 31/2 somersault with tuck that scored four maximum 10 points and three 9.5s by the seven-judge panel. He finished with 491.95 points.

Klein was second with 487.60 points, and Francesco dell'Uomo of Italy third with 481.30.

ASSOCIATED PRESS