ATHENS, Greece, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- The United States women's 800-meter relay team broke a 17-year-old world record Wednesday night in winning an Olympic gold medal.
The foursome of Natalie Coughlin, Carly Piper, Dana Vollmer and Kaitlin Sandeno were 2.05 seconds quicker than the record set in 1987 by a team from the former East Germany.
Sandeno, who won her third medal of these Games, anchored the team to a time of 7:53.42 -- more than two and a half seconds ahead of silver medalist China.
Germany took the bronze.
The record-shattering performance came after Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands, Otylia Jedrzejczak of Poland and Kosuke Kitajima of Japan had won individual golds.
Van den Hoogenband defended his Olympic title in the 100 freestyle. Australian superstar Ian Thorpe had to settle for a bronze.
Kitajima, who some Americans had said used an illegal kick in winning the 100 breaststroke earlier in the Olympics, won the 200 as well. American Brendan Hansen finished third.
Jedrzejczak won the 200 butterfly, an event in which she owns the world record.
