Soni wins 200m breaststroke gold in world record

LONDON (AFP) –

US swimmer Rebecca Soni shows off her gold medal after the podium ceremony for the women’s 200m breaststroke final swimming event at the London 2012 Olympic Games in London.

American Rebecca Soni broke the women’s 200m breaststroke world record for the second time in two days Thursday as she won Olympic gold for the second straight Games.

Using her trademark late kick, Soni won gold in 2min 19.59sec, improving the record of 2:20.00 she posted in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

She became the first Beijing swimming gold medallist to successfully defend a title in London.

“I wasn’t trying to focus on records or medals or anything, I just wanted to swim one more race the way I knew I could,” Soni said.

US swimmer Rebecca Soni competes to win gold and break the world record in the women’s 200m breaststroke final swimming event at the London 2012 Olympic Games in London.

“It has been my goal since I was a little girl to swim under 2.20, my coach told me I could be the first woman to swim 2.19 and I have been chasing it ever since and I am just so happy.

“I didn’t look (at the turn), tonight I just wanted my hand on the wall and then I looked. I am so happy.”

Soni said she didn’t plan to take it out hard and was unaware she was under world record pace.

“I didn’t know I was on pace, I just thought, ‘okay, world record last night, gold medal tonight’,” she said.

“I heard the crowd going and I didn’t think much of it, I just wanted to finish strong and touch the wall.

“I was almost afraid to look at the clock, but that was great.”

Japan’s Satomi Suzuki took silver and Russian Yuliyia Efimova earned bronze.

“I can not describe my feelings, this is my first Olympics and to win two medals is beyond my expectations,” said Suzuki, who earned bronze in the 100m breaststroke on Monday.

“I am very surprised. I tried to improve myself and go higher and higher, Rebecca’s time is the next target for me to beat now.”