Australia's Ian Thorpe came close to his own 200m freestyle world record as he recorded a second victory at the Canet-en-Roussillon swimming meeting on Thursday.

Thorpe, the Olympic silver medallist in the event, clocked one minute 44.97 secs, the second-fastest time ever in the event and just 0.28 seconds outside his world best.

"It's a pity I lost my pace on the third length - 1:18.58 (after three lengths) compared with 1:18.27 in Hobart," he said.

Thorpe, Olympic and world 400 metres freestyle champion, had won the 400 freestyle on Wednesday.

"I hope to do better once I've settled down here in Europe, in Rome or Monaco. A car was at stake here so it spurred me into action but I was a little short," added the 18-year-old Australian.

Decision time approaches

Alexander Popov and Inge de Bruijn completed sprint freestyle doubles, winning Thursday's 50m freestyle finals as easily as they had each won their 100m on Wednesday.

But de Bruijn admitted she has not yet chosen which events to contest in July's World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

De Bruijn holds the world record for the women's 50 and 100 freestyle and 50 and 100 butterfly.

All four events are in the programme for Fukuoka, the 50 butterfly for the first time at a world championships.