Japan's Kosuke Kitajima celebrates victory as he claims the title of the men's 100m breaststroke swimming at the National Aquatics Center in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 11, 2008. Kitajima, defending the title he won in Athens four years ago, broke the previous record of 59.13 set by US swimmer Brendan Hansen at Irvine, California, on August 1, 2006. [Agencies]

Japan's Kosuke Kitajima successfully defended his Olympic crown with a new world record of 58.91 seconds in the men's 100m breaststroke at the Beijing Olympic Games here on Monday.

Norwegian Alexander Dale Oen won the silver in 59.20 seconds, and French Hugues Duboscq took the bronze in 59.37 seconds.

Kitajima's new record is 0.22 seconds faster than the previous one of 59.13 seconds, held by American rival Brendan Hansen, who finished out of the top three with 59.57 seconds.