Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry reacts after setting a new world record in her women's 100-meter backstroke semi-final during the swimming competitions in the National Aquatics Center at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Photo by AP.
Coventry finished in 58.77 seconds today, breaking the mark of 58.97 set by Natalie Coughlin at last month's US trials. Coughlin won her semifinal heat in 59.42.
Coventry is the leading qualifier and Coughlin second-fastest going into Tuesday's final. Coughlin won the gold medal four years ago in Athens and Coventry took the silver.
It was the fourth world record set at the Water Cube during the games.
