Gold medalist Britta Steffen stands on the podium with her medal. (Photo credit: Al Bello/Getty Images)
(BEIJING, August 17) -- Britta Steffen of Germany sealed the sought-after Freestyle sprint double as she took gold in the Women's 50m Freestyle in an Olympic record of 24.06 seconds at the National Aquatics Center on Sunday, adding to the 100m Freestyle gold she won on Friday.
Steffen, who qualified third fastest for the final in 24.43, was not the quickest off the blocks but recovered to overpower the field and touch the wall first in a wall of whitewater.
Dara Torres of the United States, the 41-year-old mother of one, was out to show her competitors that her age is no barrier in the splash and dash. She clocked the fastest time into the final and recorded the second fastest reaction time but could only manage the silver medal behind Steffen. Torres also set an Americas record of 24.07.
Sixteen-year-old Australian schoolgirl Cate Campbell, who was not born when Torres made her third Olympic team at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, clocked an encouraging 24.17 to finish with a bronze medal.
World record holder Lisbeth Trickett of Australia had the quickest reaction time off the blocks but did not feature in the medals, finishing fourth in a time of 24.25.
Marleen Veldhuis of the Netherlands, another of the pre-race favorites, finished in fifth place at 24.26.
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