Beijing Olympic Games

Updated: 2008-08-13 21:17:45

(BEIJING, August 13) — The French team of Alena Popchanka, Celine Couderc, Camille Muffat and Coralie Balmy topped the Women’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay prelims, clocking 7:50.37 and breaking the old Olympic record, at the National Aquatics Center on Wednesday night, August 13.

Behind with silver was the former Olympic champion US team with a time of 7:52.43. The Italian team finished third (7:53.38).

The French team, led by veteran swimmer Coralie Balmy, swam a new OR time that is 0.28 seconds slower than the world record set by the US team at the 2007 World Championships in Melbourne.

The top three teams all broke the 7:53.42 OR set by the US team at Athens 2004.

Wednesday morning witnessed the US Men’s team grabbing gold in the 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay. It is anticipated that gold could also be taken by their female counterparts on August 14, when the final of the Women’s 4 x 200m Freestyle relay will be held.

Finishing first in heat 2 and standing as the overall runner-up in the prelims, US team member Caroline Burckle said: “It is really important to secure the middle lane for tomorrow. Everyone on the relay (4 x 200m Freestyle) did well so I am very excited.”

The rest of the qualifying teams are: China (7:53.77), Sweden (7:53.83), Australia (7:55.10), Hungary (7:55.26) and Japan (7:55.63).