U.S. Soni wins women's 200m breaststroke gold, shatters world record

Rebecca Soni of the United States competes during the final of women's 200m breaststroke at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube in Beijing, China, Aug. 15, 2008. Rebecca Soni won the gold medal with a new world record of 2 minutes 20.22 seconds.

Rebecca Soni of the United States won the Olympic gold medal by shattering the world record 0.32 second in the women's 200m breaststroke final here on Friday.

Closely tailed by the world record holder Leisel Jones from Australia, Soni finished the first 150m at 1:43.70 and then fired a power charge in the final leg by touching home at 2:20.22, beating Jones in a body length advantage, and bettering her record 0.32 second.

Jones, who already bagged a silver for the event in the Athen Games, took her second in 2:22.05, and the bronze went to Norway's Sara Nordenstam who was timed 2:23.02.

"It feels great. I can't believe what just happened. I've won a gold medal. It has been a long road to get here," said Soni, who was only substituted to the event after Jessica Hardy withdrew due to a failed drug test.

"I turned (at the 150m mark) and realised I was first. I knew I had a little bit left in me, so I tried to stay relaxed and strong," the breaststroker added.

Soni, who swims in her strongest event, already blistered through her heat with an Olympic record 2:22.17, and cruised into the final on top of the namelist, leaving little doubt she was the swimmer to win.

Although the 21-year-old said she was nervous all day yesterday and this morning, the pressure is acturally off for her since the Southern California University swimming star already shined by presenting an unexpected silver medal performance in 100 breast Tuesday.

"It just flowed. I tried to keep my stroke strong. It's something I've been working on through the trials," Soni said.

Jones explained the failure of her second bid for the 200m breast to some breathing problem in the final 50m.

"I just cannot breathe in the last 50 (metes), so it happened in the past. I did my best," said Jones, who already snatch the title for women's 100m breaststroke race on Tuesday morning.

"I'm definitely not disappointed. It is probably more relief than anything," Jones said after the race, adding that a silver medal is enough for her to feel happy.

" I gave it everything I had, I couldn't have given it any more," the 23-year-old Aussie said.