American Soni wins Olympic 200 breaststroke

[August 15, 2008]  BEIJING (AP) -- Rebecca Soni of the United States has won a gold medal in the women's 200-meter breaststroke at the Beijing Olympics, beating world record-holder Leisel Jones and erasing the Aussie's world-best time.

Soni touched in 2 minutes, 20.22 seconds, a body length ahead of Jones. Both women were under world-record pace throughout the four-lap race. Soni had finished second to Jones in the 100 breast.

Jones took the silver in 2:22.05. Sara Nordenstam of Norway earned the bronze in 2:23.02.

It was the 19th world record set in the pool at these games.

[Associated Press]

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