Aug. 13, 2008

Beijing, China - Golden Bear legend Natalie Coughlin earned another medal in the 2008 Games, this time a bronze, as the United States' 4x200-meter freestyle relay finished third in an American-record time of 7:46.33 behind a world-record time from Australia (7:44.31) and silver-medalist China (7:45.93). All three relays eclipsed the old world record of 7:50.09 set by the United States at the 2007 World Championships in Australia.

Coughlin now has four medals from the Beijing Olympics and nine overall, including five from the 2004 Athens Games.

Coughlin also posted the top time in the 100-meter freestyle semifinals with a 53.70. She will swim in the 100-free final at 8:04 p.m. PT on Friday, Aug. 14 (11:04 a.m. Beijing time on Saturday, Aug. 15). A medal in the 100 free would tie Coughlin with U.S. teammate Dara Torres at 10 career Olympic medals. Jennie Thompson holds the U.S. record for most Olympic medals by a female with 12.