Published: 8/4/2012 - Updated: 9 months ago

U.S. women set world record, win gold in medley relay

U.S. women's 4 x 100-meter medley relay team members from left, Missy Franklin, Rebecca Soni, Dana Vollmer, and Alison Schmitt hold their gold medals after their victory. ASSOCIATED PRESS Enlarge

LONDON — The United States set a world record to win the women's 4x100-medley relay at the London Olympics today.

The Americans clocked 3 minutes, 52.05 seconds, slicing 0.14 off the previous mark set by China at the 2009 world championships at the height of the high-tech bodysuit era.

Missy Franklin swam the leadoff backstroke leg, Rebecca Soni did the breaststroke, Dana Vollmer competed in butterfly and Allison Schmitt had the anchor leg in freestyle.

The 17-year-old Franklin, who starts her senior year in high school this fall, finished the meet with four golds and a bronze, while Schmitt leaves with three golds, a silver and a bronze.

Australia touched in 3:54.02 to take the silver medal and Japan finished in 3:55.73 to take bronze.

Guidelines: Please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. If a comment violates these standards or our privacy statement or visitor's agreement, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report abuse. To post comments, you must be a Facebook member. To find out more, please visit the FAQ.