[h=3]By Nicole Auerbach, USA TODAY[/h]Updated
LONDON - Three of their swimmers had broken world records this week in their signature events, so it shouldn't have come as any surprise that the American women won the 4x100-meter medley relay in world-record time Saturday night.
Franklin waves to the crowd after winning the women's 200 backstroke final during the London Olympics on Friday.
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Missy Franklin (backstroke), Rebecca Soni (breaststroke), Dana Vollmer (butterfly) and Allison Schmitt (freestyle) combined for a time of 3:52.05. Australia won silver, and Japan earned bronze.
The medal is the fifth of the Games for both Franklin and Schmitt, two of USA's breakout stars.
Franklin, 17, will leave London with four gold medals and one bronze. Her two most impressive gold medals were her two individual ones, in the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke. She set a world record in the 200 back Friday night.
A major concern about Franklin's Olympic program heading into these Games was whether it was too ambitious. She competed in seven events (she did not medal in either freestyle), which is the most for an American woman ever.
The night before her final event, the medley relay, Franklin said she was surprised that she wasn't more tired. She said being a part of the U.S. team and feeding off others' success and motivation helped.
It's fitting that Franklin's final medal comes in a relay considering how much she values the team atmosphere at these Olympics.
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LONDON - Three of their swimmers had broken world records this week in their signature events, so it shouldn't have come as any surprise that the American women won the 4x100-meter medley relay in world-record time Saturday night.
Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Franklin waves to the crowd after winning the women's 200 backstroke final during the London Olympics on Friday.
Franklin waves to the crowd after winning the women's 200 backstroke final during the London Olympics on Friday.
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Missy Franklin (backstroke), Rebecca Soni (breaststroke), Dana Vollmer (butterfly) and Allison Schmitt (freestyle) combined for a time of 3:52.05. Australia won silver, and Japan earned bronze.
The medal is the fifth of the Games for both Franklin and Schmitt, two of USA's breakout stars.
Franklin, 17, will leave London with four gold medals and one bronze. Her two most impressive gold medals were her two individual ones, in the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke. She set a world record in the 200 back Friday night.
A major concern about Franklin's Olympic program heading into these Games was whether it was too ambitious. She competed in seven events (she did not medal in either freestyle), which is the most for an American woman ever.
The night before her final event, the medley relay, Franklin said she was surprised that she wasn't more tired. She said being a part of the U.S. team and feeding off others' success and motivation helped.
It's fitting that Franklin's final medal comes in a relay considering how much she values the team atmosphere at these Olympics.
[h=2]Sponsored Links[/h]