Allison Schmitt gets gold for U.S. in 200 free
LONDON -- American Allison Schmitt won the 200 freestyle Tuesday with a dominating performance that left everyone else, including teammate Missy Franklin, battling for the other medals.
Schmitt triumphed in an Olympic-record 1:53.61. France's Camille Muffat took the silver in 1:55.58, almost a body length behind, while Bronte Barrett of Australia took the bronze over Franklin by a hundredth of a second.
Barrett touched in 1:55.81. Franklin, who led after the first 50 meters, was fourth in 1:55.82.
"I was just racing," said Schmitt, who is quietly becoming one of the stars of the pool. "I knew I had to kick it. I just look at that scoreboard and see 53 and first place. I couldn't be happier."
Schmitt shaved more than a second off the mark set by Italy's Federica Pellegrini four years ago at the Beijing Games. Pellegrini finished fifth behind Schmitt.
Schmitt captured her first career gold medal, to go along with a silver in the 400 free and a bronze in the 4 x 100 free relay.
The 17-year-old Franklin was denied her third medal of the Games, one night after her gutsy victory in the 100 backstroke earned her a tweet-out from pop star Justin Bieber.
"I was trying to do the best that I can," said Franklin, who still has four more events here. "I was in an incredible heat. I really wanted to go best time."
