Stephanie Rice poses with the gold medal. (Photo credit: Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
(BEIJING, August 13) -- Stephanie Rice of Australia underlined her dominance in the Medley events when she broke her own world record to win the Olympic Women's 200m Individual Medley gold medal in a new mark of 2:08.45.
Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry took silver and American Natalie Coughlin the bronze.
Stephanie Rice competes. (Photo credit: Nick Laham/Getty Images)
(L-R) Kirsty Coventry, Stephanie Rice and Natalie Coughlin (Photo credit: Nick Laham/Getty Images)
Rice was challenged early as Coughlin led out after the backstroke leg. Then it was Coventry's turn to lead the race after the backstroke and breaststroke legs, dipping under the world record split by 0.97 seconds.
Rice moved on Coventry in the freestyle leg and eased her way past in the last 30m to touch the wall first, 0.47 seconds under the world record she set in Sydney in March.
Rice went into the final as the second fastest qualifier and she has now firmly established herself as the woman to catch in the Individual Medley having won the 400m version on Sunday.
As the fastest qualifier from the heats, Coventry swam a gallant race and great middle 100m to win the silver medal in 2:08.59.
Coughlin dropped off after a great first backstroke leg but was good enough to keep teammate Katie Hoff (USA) at bay and win the bronze medal in 2:10.34.
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