The veteran swimmer recorded a personal-best time of 21.62 seconds in Saturday's final - just 0.13 seconds behind bronze medallist Alain Bernard of France.

Callus finished ahead of world record-holder Eamon Sullivan of Australia who placed sixth in 21.65 seconds. Brazilian Cesar Cielo Filho won gold (21.30) and France's Amaury Leveaux (21.45) picked up the silver medal.

Callus qualifies third for 50m final

REDLANDER Ashley Callus upstaged world record-holder Eamon Sullivan on Friday to qualify third fastest for the 50m freestyle final.

The 29-year-old slashed his personal best time from 22.01 seconds to 21.68 to finish second in the second semifinal.

Saturday's final at 12.30pm will be the first time Ashley - a Sydney and Athens veteran - has qualified for an individual final at the Olympics.

He was considered an outside chance at making the top eight, having finished 13th in the heats.

Fellow Aussie Eamon Sullivan clocked 21.75 in his semi on Friday to place sixth overall.

Fastest qualifiers for the final were Brazilian Cesar Cielo Filho in an Olympic record of 21.34 and Frenchman Alain Bernard in 21.54.

Callus, who is coached by Chris Urquhart, won a gold medal in the 4x100m relay at the Sydney Olympics and a bronze in the same event this week.