WR: AUS - 7:44.32 4x200m
2008-08-14
Craig Lord
Four teams race inside the world record in the 4x200m freestyle; Australia followed home by China and the USA, with Italy fourth and under 7:50; third gold for Rice

Stephanie Rice is a triple golden girl this morning. Four teams raced inside the world record in the 4x200m freestyle. And three of them did so by a huge chunk. Expected, of course, in these days of leap-and-bounce technology driven performances.

Australians took the crown in 7:44.31 ahead of China, on 7:45.93, and the United States on 7:46.33. Consistency won the day for the Dolphins, with Stephanie Rice leading the way on a 1:56, Bronte Barratt matching that, before Kylie Palmer and Linda McKenzie raced 1:55s. A tremendous performance, one that made the race a little less tight at the top that had been imagined. A thrilling race nonethless. And look at China's time! 7:55.97 was the national record coming into these Games. You don't see 10sec drops that often. And if the explanation is the suit and the same suit is worn next summer, we won't see them again. The playing field will have been levelled at a different level. 

So to the splits:

 

  • AUS:  Rice 1:56.60; Barratt 1:56.58; Palmer 1:55.22; McKenzie, 1:55.91 - 7:44.32 WR
  • CHN: Yang Yu, 1:56.79; Zhu Qianwei, 1:56.64; Tan Miao, 1:58.11; Pang Jiaying, 1:54.39 - 7:45.93
  • USA: Alison Schmitt, 1:57.71; Natalie Coughlin, 1:57.19; Caroline Burckle, 1:56.70; Katie Hoff, 1:54.73 - 7:46.33