Federica Pellegrini kisses the gold medal. (Photo credit: Paul Gilham/Getty Images)
(Beijing August 13) -- Italy's Federica Pellegrini won gold with a world record time of 1:54.82 in the Women's 200m Freestyle final at the National aquatics center on Wednesday, August 13.
Pellegrini's time was 0.63 seconds under the old world record mark. The swim was all the more impressive because of Pellegrini's heavy Beijing 2008 Olympic Games schedule.
Sara Isakovic of Slovenia, the fastest qualifier into the final on Tuesday, August 12, took silver in 1:54.97.
China's hopes for a surprise gold medal in the race looked good early on with Pang Jiaying swimming strongly, but she faded in the last 50m. Nevertheless, she had done enough to hold on for a bronze medal in 1:55.05 - and to set an Asian record.
Katie Hoff of the United States, who qualified second fastest for the final, finished fourth in an Americas record time of 1:55.78.
Camelia Alina Potec of Romania, the defending Olympic champion, finished in fifth place in 1:56.87.
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