The Associated Press, Thursday, August 3, 2006; 1:08 PM
BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Germany set a world record in the women's 800-meter freestyle relay Thursday at the European Swimming Championships, finishing in 7 minutes, 50.82 seconds. The German team of Petra Dalmann, Daniela Samulski, Britta Steffen and Annika Liebs set the record despite racing during a steady rain. The previous record of 7:53.42 was held by the United States. The team of Natalie Coughlin, Carly Piper, Dana Vollmer and Kaitlin Sandeno set the mark at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Otylia Jedrzejczak had Poland on a world-record pace after the first 200 meters, but her team faded quickly and Germany took over the lead after 300 meters. Steffen finished the third leg just 0.07 seconds ahead of world-record pace, but Liebs swam the anchor leg in 1:55.64, the team's fastest performance, to seal the victory and the record.
"In the end I swam full speed despite the large lead, because I feared someone could catch me," Liebs said.
After three legs, Germany led Poland by 3.11 seconds. France finished third. On Monday, Dalmann, Steffen, Liebs and Daniela Goetz set a world record in the women's 400 freestyle relay. Steffen also set an individual world record Wednesday in the 100 freestyle.
(Annika Liebs swims for SG Frankfurt in Frankfurt, Germany.)
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