Olympics: USA's Soni breaks 200m breastroke record in winning gold

Friday 15 August 2008

BEIJING - American Rebecca Soni upset world champion and world record holder Leisel Jones to win the women's 200 metres breaststroke gold medal in world record time at the Beijing Olympics on Friday.

Soni kept up with the Australian under world record pace and pulled away in the final lap to lower Jones's world mark by 0.32secs in a new record time of two minutes 20.22 seconds.

Norway's Sara Nordenstam was third in an European record 2:23.02.Jones has been the undisputed queen of women's breaststroke and broke through for her first individual Olympic gold in winning the 100m event on Tuesday.

Soni was the runner-up to Jones in the 100m final, but she was too strong for the Aussie champion over the extra two laps.

Soni said she had been motivated by the sensational gold medal exploits of American teammate Michael Phelps.