U.S. wins 4X100 freestyle relay gold with stunning new world record The American quartet of freestyle swimmers recorded 3:08.24, out-touching their French rivals by 0.08 seconds to win the gold medal in the 4X100 freestyle relay in the Beijing Olympic Games on Monday.
The new world record set by Michael Phelps, Garrett Weber-Gale, Cullen Jones and Jason Lezak is 3.99 seconds faster than the previous one they set in Sunday's heats.
Phelps got the team off to a good start in the first 100 meters, placing second after Australian top sprinter Eamon Sullivan, who set a new world record 100m in 47.24. But the French swimmers moved up in the water and locked themselves in a two-way race with the Americans in the second and third legs.
America's last swimmer Lezak charged strongly in the final 50 meters to outstroke French anchor leg Alain Bernard.
"It was unbelievable," Phelps told reporters. "Jason finished the race better than we could have asked for. This was going to be a really close race. Jason in the last 50 was incredible."
Phelps, taking his second gold in Beijing , yelled with joy at poolside.
"At the end, as you could see, I was pretty excited," he said. "I lost my voice, and I was very emotional."
On Sunday, Phelps defended his Olympic title in the men's 400-meter individual medley with a new world record.
Phelps stormed to touch the wall first with a time of 4:03.84, shaving 1.41 seconds off his own world record set at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in July.
Now Phelps stays on pace. Next up is Tuesday's 200 freestyle final in which he's the world record-holder.
"Michael's quest is completely in the hands of Michael at this point," said Cullen Jones, who swam the third leg. "He knows when to back off in races, but he gave it all he could in that 100 free."
Source: Xinhua
