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China's Ye, 16, Sets Swim Record

Teen beats world record by more than 1 second in 400-meter medley

By the Associated Press

Posted Jul 29, 2012 5:27 AM CDT

(AP) – China's Ye Shiwen set the first world record in the Olympic pool, winning the women's 400-meter individual medley with a dominant finishing kick last night. The 16-year-old Ye trailed American teenager Elizabeth Beisel more than halfway through the grueling race, but pulled away in the freestyle leg to win gold in 4 minutes, 28.43 seconds. She beat the 4:29.45 mark set by Stephanie Rice at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Beisel settled for silver with 4:31.27, while China's Li Xuanxu took the bronze in 4:32.91. Ye was the second Chinese swimmer to win gold on the opening night of swimming competition at the London Olympics. Sun Yang won the men's 400 freestyle.

China's Ye Shiwen, right, with compatriot Li Xuanxuat, reacts after finishing first in the women's 400-meter individual medley swimming final yesterday.
China's Ye Shiwen, right, with compatriot Li Xuanxuat, reacts after finishing first in the women's 400-meter individual medley swimming final yesterday.   (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Shiwen Ye of China holds up her gold medal after winning the women's 400 meter individual medley at the Aquatic Centre in London on Saturday, July 28, 2012.
Shiwen Ye of China holds up her gold medal after winning the women's 400 meter individual medley at the Aquatic Centre in London on Saturday, July 28, 2012.   (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatrick)
China's Ye Shiwen poses with her gold medal for the women's 400-meter individual medley at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Saturday, July 28, 2012.
China's Ye Shiwen poses with her gold medal for the women's 400-meter individual medley at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Saturday, July 28, 2012.   (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
baba
Jul 29, 2012 4:34 PM CDT
Hell ye
George-Jetson
Jul 29, 2012 10:47 AM CDT
She ate the meat
Emmanuel_Goldstein
Jul 29, 2012 10:42 AM CDT
Meet the next empire.

Copyright 2013 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

 
2012 London Olympics • world record • swimming • Olympics • swimmer • Ye Shiwen

 
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