The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Sydney

Adopted Australian Matt Jaukovic broke the 50-metres butterfly short course world record on the opening night of the Sydney leg of the World Cup on Saturday.

The former Montenegro swimmer, competing in his first meet for Australia, clocked 22.50 seconds to lower the previous record of Brazilian Kaio Almeida by 0.1 seconds.

The 22-year-old law student picked up 11,500 US dollars in prizemoney for his performance in the final swim of the night.

"It is going to be different now because before I was an underdog and now people are going to be after me," Jaukovic said.

"That is a different perspective but I think I can handle it."

Jaukovic moved to Australia three and a half years ago to study at Sydney University and improve his swimming.

His parents still live in Montenegro but are hoping to catch up with him at the Moscow round of the World Cup.

Jaukovic said he had been closing in on the world mark and was delighted to have done it in Sydney.

"I think this was my fifth go at it, including the nationals and I am quite happy to have got it at home," he said.

Beijing Olympic 1500m freestyle gold medallist Oussama Mellouli won three finals on the opening night.

The Tunisian took the 400m freestyle in three minutes 40.49 seconds, and the 100m and 400m medley in 53.84secs and 4:06.47 respectively.

Nick D'Arcy, who was kicked off Australia's team for the Beijing Games to answer still pending serious assault charges following a late-night bar incident, returned to the pool to share the 200m butterfly title.

D'Arcy went out hard and just held on as fast-finishing compatriot Chris Wright dead- heated with him in 1:53.37.