London Olympics 2012 Swimming: Franklin wins women`s 200m backstroke with record

London: Missy Franklin of the United States won the gold medal in the women`s swimming 200m backstroke here today with a new world record.

The 17-year-old American clocked 2min 04.06secs to better the previous world record of 2:04.81, held by Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe. Anastasia Zueva of Russia won the silver in 2:05.92 with American Elizabeth Beisel taking the bronze in 2:06.55. It was Franklin`s third gold medal of the Games after her win in the 100m backstroke and the 4x200m freestyle relay. "It feels absolutely amazing, I can`t think of a better way to end my individual events," Franklin said. "That is my favourite one, I wanted to get out there and have fun and that`s what I did. "I never dreamed it would happen like that, I am the happiest girl alive." Franklin said her plan was to get to the front and dictate the pace. "I knew I had to get out there, it was an incredible field I was up against in that last 25 I knew I was gving it everything I had because I couldn`t feel my arms and legs," she said. "I was just trying to get my hand to the wall as fast as I could. For Franklin, she said the partying starts after the medley relay on Saturday night. Agencies