Rome - When fans in the Foro Italico in Rome started clapping to the Brazilian national anthem on Friday evening, Cesar Cielo Filho could no longer hold back his tears.

A short while earlier, Cielo Filho, 22, had won the men's 100m freestyle at the world championship in a new world record time of 46.91 seconds, beating Australian Eamon Sullivan's old mark by 0.14 seconds.

Falling second behind France's Frederick Bousquet at the turn, Cielo Filho - who was born in Santa Barbara d'Oeste on the outskirts of Sao Paulo - showed complete control as he kicked in on the last 50m and managed to get past Bousquet and hold off another Frenchman, Alain Bernard.

When he stood on the podium to receive his medal, he cried unashamedly.

"They were tears of relief," he explained later.

"Being Brazilian is not easy because the country does not win many gold medals. Because of that, I had an extra thousand pounds in my bag. I could not feel my hands or my body when the race started, I was under so much pressure.

"But when I was on (the) podium, it was such a big relief and I could just relax and enjoy the moment. It was a great place to be and I was so happy. It is a dream come true."

Bousquet and Bernard, who won the bronze and silver medals respectively, put their arms around the crying winner on the podium.

Cielo Filho thanked them afterwards. "They are real friends. We are rivals, but also friends. We have a lot of fair play between us and I am really happy."

He paid his respects to Bernard, who earlier this year swam the 100m freestyle under 47, but his time has not yet been ratified. "I do not consider myself as the first swimmer under 47. That was Alain."

When asked if he could now possibly become as famous as Brazilian footballers like Kaka or Ronaldinho, Cielo Filho said he did not know, but added: "I will gladly take half their money. If Real Madrid want me, I am ready.

"I don't swim to get rich or famous. I want to be happy. I have a lot of satisfaction with my swimming. My family puts in a lot of hard work and I want to finish my career knowing that I tried my best and put in all the effort."

Cielo Filho - who, according to legendary Russian 50m freestyle specialist Alexander Popov, swam so fast because "he has two balls, two arms and a strong head" - arrived in Rome with 50m freestyle gold and 100m freestyle bronze medals from the Olympics in Beijing.

He said Thursday's victory was the reward for all the hard work that he had put in.

"It was a very long season. We started the second week in January and I got to a point where I could not push myself no further. I did not have anything to give anymore.

"But when we started resting, I could feel that all the hard work was paying off and I started feeling really fast."

Cielo Filho said he did not think too much about the others before the race. "I did not look to the side and I do not know who turned first. I think the main thing was being focused on my lane and I think I got a little bit of luck there."

But for Roman swimming fans, it didn't matter whether it was luck or skill that ultimately ensured his victory as they cheered on their Cesar.

Asked if he was named after the great Roman emperor, Cielo Filho admitted said: "My father's name is Cesar, so he must be the emperor and I was named after him."

But even without the connection to the Emperor of Rome, it is a city dear to Cielo Filho's heart. "In 1994, Brazil got their last medals here and now I won gold, so that is good."(dpa)