Turning last at the fifty-metre mark, German Britta Steffen has won gold in the 100m women's freestyle final at the Beijing Olympics, beating her own Olympic record.

Steffen won in a time of 53.12 seconds, beating the Olympic record which she set on Sunday by 0.26 seconds.

Australian Libby Trickett, who only made the final due to a disqualification, swam from lane eight to claim the silver medal in a time of 53.16 seconds.

Natalie Coughlin continued the United States’ medal haul in the pool, claiming bronze in a time of 53.39 seconds, to equal the Americas Record.

The world record of the 100m freestyle remains with Libby Trickett at a time of 52.88 seconds set in Sydney in March earlier this year.

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Tags: beijing olympics, sport, swimming