Super Rice completes course

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-14 08:20

(From left) US swimmer Katie Hoff, Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry and Australia's Stephanie Rice compete during the women's 200m individual medley swimming final yesterday. Rice won the gold. AFP

Australia's Stephanie Rice completed her individual medley sweep with another world record at the Water Cube yesterday.

She won the 200m individula medley (IM) in 2 min 08.45 sec, erasing her own mark of 2:08.92. Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe took silver, her third of the Games, while Natalie Coughlin of the US took bronze.

Rice had won the 400m IM gold on Sunday, also in world record time, beating top favorite American Katie Hoff.

Said Rice, wearing big green earrings that matched her country's colors: "It's something I have dreamed about for a long time. It's the ultimate goal."

She added yesterday's four-lapper seemed tougher.

Coughlin, whose bronze was her third medal of the Games, and Coventry held the early lead in the race, but after 150m, the 20-year-old Rice began to catch up.

"It was such a tough race. I really struggled getting in, the last 50 was a great challenge," said Rice.

"But that's sort of what the Olympics is about. It's about the challenge and I was trying not to look over. I was just trying to close my eyes and concentrate on all the hard sessions we've done and I was really just focusing on my own race."

Swimming next to Coughlin in Lane 5, the versatile Rice chased the leading pair vigorously, first overhauling Coughlin and then Coventry.

Said Rice: "It's really good being next to Natalie. She pushed me through the first 100 meters. And Kirsty swam amazing as always."

Agencies

(China Daily 08/14/2008 page5)