Two more world records fell on the next-to-last day of swimming — the 22nd and 23rd of a lightning-quick week.
Britain’s Rebecca Adlington won gold in the 800m freestyle, breaking Janet Evans’ 19-year-old world record — the oldest in swimming.
Adlington touched in 8 minutes, 14.10 seconds to crush the mark of 8 minutes, 16.22 seconds set by the American in Tokyo on Aug. 20, 1989. Alessia Filippi of Italy took the silver and Lotte Friis of Denmark the bronze.
PHOTO: AP
Adlington completed a sweep of the women’s distance events in Beijing, having upset American Katie Hoff to win the 400m freestyle.
Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe defended her Olympic title in the 200m backstroke, winning in a world-record time. She led all the way and finished in 2 minutes, 5.24 seconds, lowering the mark of 2 minutes, 6.09 seconds set by Margaret Hoelzer at the US trials last month.
Hoelzer took the silver in 2 minutes, 6.23 seconds and Reiko Nakamura of Japan the bronze in 2 minutes, 7.13 seconds.
No one was happier that Cesar Cielo, who won Brazil’s first swimming gold with an upset in the 50m freestyle. He broke down crying on the medal stand and was mobbed by his teammates on the deck.
He won in 21.30 seconds, lowering his own Olympic mark of 21.34 seconds that he set in the semi-finals. Amaury Leveaux of France took the silver in 21.45 seconds and Alain Bernard, also of France, the 100m champion, won bronze in 21.49 seconds.
Also, 41-year-old Dara Torres of the US cruised into the final of the 50m freestyle with the fastest semi-final time, 24.27 seconds. Australian teenager Cate Campbell was second at 24.42 seconds.
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