Rebecca Soni sets world record at 2012 Olympics

(CBS/AP)Continuing the American swim team's outstanding performances in the 2012 Olympics, Rebecca Soni set a world record Wednesday in the 200-meter semifinals for the breaststroke. She finished in a time of 2:20 on Wednesday night.

Special Section: London 2012
Pictures: London 2012 in pictures

The shattered 2:20.12 record had been set by Canadian Annamay Pierse at the World Championships in Rome in 2009.

Soni could get a chance to beat her own record Thursday night in the final in the 200-meter breaststroke. The New Jersey swimmer already has won a silver medal in the 100-meter breaststroke.

Soni shaved 0.12 seconds off the previous mark set by Pierse in a now-banned bodysuit.

It was the fifth world record set in the pool at these games.

Rikke Pedersen of Denmark qualified second in 2:22.23 and Satomi Suzuki of Japan was third in 2:22.40.

The top eight finishers qualified for Thursday's final.

Soni was also favored to win the 100 breast but took silver behind surprise 15-year-old winner Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania.

Meilutyte did not enter the 200.