Double Olympic champion Britta Steffen demolished the new 100 metres freestyle world record she set on Thursday at the German National Championships in Berlin.

The 25-year-old had lowered Libby Trickett's previous record to 52.85 seconds in the heats but she returned today to lower it to 52.56secs.

It makes her the favourite for next month's World Championships in Rome with only Steffen and Trickett, of Australia, having dipped under 53 seconds.

Steffen wore the adidas Hydrofoil suit and has acknowledged the role it played in her performance.