BRISBANE, Australia — New ultra-fast suits notwithstanding, the Australian swimming championships proved to be quite an eye-opener for the country's prospects at the Beijing Olympics.

Eight world records in eight nights set up the Australians as the sprint and women's individual medley swimmers to beat at August's Games.

All eight record setters at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, the 2000 Olympic pool, were wearing the new Speedo LRZ suits which promised — and ultimately provided — less drag in the water and faster times.

But they could prove to be more of a drag if the sport's governing body, FINA, rules that the seamless suits — made available to the world's elite in mid-February — provide too much buoyancy, possibly ruling them out of the Olympics.

The sport's governing body will take a closer look at the suits during the upcoming world short-course titles in Birmingham, England.

On Saturday's final day of the Australian championships, Libby Trickett broke the world record in the women's 50-meter freestyle, adding to her 100 world record of two nights earlier.

Trickett, formerly Libby Lenton and competing under her married name for the first time at this event, finished in a time of 23.97 seconds to lower Marleen Veldhuis' previous mark of 24.09. Dutch swimmer Veldhuis set her record Monday at the European championships.

On Friday, Australian Eamon Sullivan broke his own world record in the 50-meter freestyle, setting a second new mark in 24 hours. Stephanie Rice, Sullivan's girlfriend, set world records in the 200- and 400-meter individual medley events. Trickett also set a new mark in the 100 freestyle on Thursday.

On Saturday, Trickett lowered her own personal best time by more than half a second in the 50.

"I never really thought I could go this quick before," said Trickett. "I have not been able to put together a good 50 meters before. But after the 100 I was just so excited for this race."

In the final event Saturday, Grant Hackett, Australia's best-known swimmer following the retirement of Ian Thorpe, posted his fastest time in the 1,500 meters in three years.

Hackett, who won gold over 1,500 at the past two Olympics, won the 30-lap event, finishing in 14 minutes, 48.65 seconds.

It was Hackett's fastest time since winning the world title in 2005 and having shoulder surgery in 2006. However, Hackett was still 14 seconds off the world-record time he posted at the 2001 world championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

"I did not feel great in the warmup," Hackett said. "But I held the pace up well considering how I felt and it is a solid time."

If Hackett wins gold at Beijing, he would become the first man to win three successive Olympic swimming titles in the same event.