Rice smashes world mark

Rice, the latest in a long line of Australian women swimmers who have won Olympic gold, will now be thrust even further into the spotlight in a country already fascinated by her.

Rice was appearing at her first Olympics but went into the race as one of the favourites after breaking Hoff8217;s old record at the Australian trials. Hoff regained the record in June but the American could not keep up with the Australian as she set off at a blistering pace, leading almost all the way to the gold.

Zimbabwe8217;s Kirsty Coventry, who surged to the front after the backstroke leg, also went under the old world record to take the silver in 4:29.89, leaving Hoff with bronze in 4:31.71.