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The 17-year-old from Colorado led the four-lap race from start to finish to win in two minutes 04.06 seconds, slashing three-quarters of a second off Coventry’s world record, which was set in a now banned polyurethane bodysuit.
Russia’s Anastasia Zueva won the silver medal and America’s Elizabeth Beisel the bronze but neither could keep up with the bubbly Franklin, who opened up a body’s length over the field after just 75 metres.
Franklin, who won the 200 backstroke world title last year, became the first woman in 12 years to complete the backstroke double at the Olympics and the first American since Melissa Belote in 1972.
Franklin also won gold medals in the 100 backstroke and 4×200 freestyle relay and a bronze in the 4×100 freestyle relay in London and is not finished yet.
She still has the medley relay to come today where the US are overwhelming favourites to win gold.
Coventry had won the gold at the last two Olympics and was bidding to become just the third woman to win the same individual event at three Olympics. — Reuters.
Online Reporter