A stacked field in the women’s 200m freestyle final wasn’t nearly enough to stop Allison Schmitt. Schmitt dominated the pool on Tuesday, setting a new Olympic record and giving the United States the overall medal lead.
Women’s 200m Freestyle Final: Allison Schmitt Dominates For Team USA Gold
Allison Schmitt stole the show in the 200m freestyle, blowing away the field to win gold in Olympic record time.
After Missy Franklin bolted to the lead in the first 50 meters, Schmitt overtook her countrywoman, and led from 100 meters on, finishing in a lightning-fast 1:53.61. France’s Camille Muffat, the silver medalist, was nearly two seconds behind at 1:55.58.
The truly competitive race was for bronze, and Australia’s Bronte Barratt won it, nipping Franklin by 0.01 seconds, 1:55.81 to 1:55.82.
The gold is the U.S.‘s fifth in swimming at the 2012 Olympics, and 13th medal from the pool overall. It also pushes the United States past China, possibly only briefly, in the overall medal count.
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