U.S. swimmer Allison Schmitt sets Olympic record to win 200-meter freestyle gold

United States' Allison Schmitt holds her gold medal aloft after winning the women's 200-meter freestyle swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. / AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa De Olza

(AP) LONDON - Allison Schmitt of the United States set an Olympic record to win the 200-meter freestyle at the London Games on Tuesday.

Schmitt clocked 1 minute, 53.61 seconds, shaving more than a second off the mark set by Italy's Federica Pellegrini four years ago in Beijing.

The 400-meter champion Camille Muffat of France touched in 1:55.58 to take the silver and Bronte Barratt of Australia finished in 1:55.81 to get bronze.

American teenager Missy Franklin finished fourth and world-record holder Pellegrini was fifth.