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ROME, Italy, August 1. CHINA has been producing some sterling swims in relay action at the FINA World Championships.
Tonight, the foursome of Zhao Jing (58.98), Chan Huijia (1:04.12), Jiao Liuyang (56.28) and Li Zhesi (52.81) claimed the world record in the women's 400 medley relay with a 3:52.19. The performance wiped out the 3:52.69 set by Australia at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Australia gave China nearly all it could handle as Emily Seebohm (59.40), Sarah Katsoulis (1:04.65), Jessicah Schipper (56.19) and Libby Trickett (52.34) touched in 3:52.58 from lane one. The squad also cleared the former world record.
The splits of the previous record for comparison; Seebohm (59.33), Leisel Jones (1:04.58), Schipper (56.25), Trickett (52.53).
Germany's Daniela Samulski (59.85), Sarah Poewe (1:06.81), Annika Mehlhorn (57.14) and Britta Steffen (51.99) completed the podium with a third-place 3:55.79.
Great Britain (3:57.03), The Netherlands (3:57.31), Canada (3:57.87), Japan (3:57.93) and Brazil (3:58.83) also swam in the final.