Allison Schmitt leads U.S. to gold in freestyle relay

United States' Shannon Vreeland, left, and Missy Franklin, right, embrace Allison Schmitt, foreground, and Dana Vollmer, center, after they won an Olympic gold in the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay.

LONDON -- Allison Schmitt, of Canton, Mich., chased down Australia's Alicia Coutts to give the Americans gold in the 4x200 freestyle relay today at the London Olympics.

Schmitt dived in the water about a half-second behind, but passed Coutts on their first return lap and won going away in 7:42.92. The Australians settled for another silver in 7:44.41, while France took the bronze.

Schmitt is turning into one of the biggest American stars of the games, picking up her second gold to go along with a silver and a bronze.

Missy Franklin, 17, also picked up her second gold swimming the leadoff leg, and Dana Vollmer claimed her second gold in London. Shannon Vreeland rounded out the gold medal-winning quartet.