Olympics: Soni breaks another world record to win 200m breaststroke gold
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Rebecca Soni of the United States celebrates as she wins the women's 200m breaststroke final in world record time during the London 2012 Olympic Games. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON (REUTERS) - Rebecca Soni broke the world record for the second time in 24 hours to win the women's 200 metres breaststroke gold at the London Olympics on Thursday.
The American surged clear of her rivals after trailling after the first lap then taking the lead at the halfway stage to win in a time of two minutes, 19.59 seconds, slashing 0.41 off the previous record of 2:20.00 she set in Wednesday's semi-finals.
Japan's Satomi Suzuki won the silver medal and the bronze went to Iuliia Efimova of Russia.
Soni also won the four-lap event in Beijing four years ago and by winning in London she became the first woman to successfully defend a breaststroke title at the Olympics.
