The second-oldest world record in the women?s record book has fallen. Laure Manaudou of France broke U.S. Olympic gold medalist Janet Evans? 17-and-a-half-year-old record in the 400m freestyle at the French Championships, turning in a time of 4:03.03. Evans? old mark, set on Sept. 22, 1988, at the Olympic Games in Seoul, stood at 4:03.88.
?I want to congratulate Laure on a fantastic swim,? said Evans, who was inducted into the U.S.

Olympic Committee Hall of Fame in 2004. ?It was an honor to have held the 400m freestyle world record for 18 years. I never felt that the record was mine, but that it belonged to all of the friends, family and coaches that helped me achieve it. Now that I am 34 years old, married and pregnant with my first child, I appreciate the accomplishments of great athletes such as Laure even more.

?My goal was always to make swimming a sport that was appreciated and supported globally. I am very excited that a swimmer from any country in the world can break a world record and be an Olympic gold medalist. I again congratulate Laure and look forward to personally doing the same at World Championships in Melbourne in 2007.?

Evans still holds the world records in the 800m free and 1500m free. Her mark in the 1500m free, which was set March 26, 1988 in Orlando, Fla., is still the oldest in the books.