BEIJING – Italy’s Federica Pellegrini has won gold for the women’s 200 metres freestyle at the Beijing Olympics, bettering her own record set in Monday’s heat.

The italian champion won gold in a record time of 1:54.82 (27.27, 55.92, 1:25.57) and become the first Italian woman to win an Olympic gold medal in swimming.

World record evolution (Time, Name/Nationality, Place, Date):

1:55.45 Federica Pellegrini ITA Beijing 11.08.08
1:55.52 Laure Manaudou FRA Melbourne 28.03.07
1:56.47 Federica Pellegrini ITA Melbourne 27.03.07
1:56.64 Franziska van Almsick GER Berlin 03.08.02
1:56.78 Franziska van Almsick GER Rome 06.09.94