Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metre individual medley
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The women's 400 metre individual medley event at the 2012 Summer Olympics took place on 28 July at the London Aquatics Centre in London, United Kingdom.[1]
Women's 400 metre individual medley at the Games of the XXX Olympiad | |||||||||||||
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Venue | London Aquatics Centre | ||||||||||||
Date | July 28, 2012 (heats & final) | ||||||||||||
Competitors | 36 from 29 nations | ||||||||||||
Winning time | 4:28.43 WR | ||||||||||||
Medalists | |||||||||||||
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At only 16 years of age, China's Ye Shiwen blasted a new world record to capture the Olympic title in the event. She trailed behind American teenager Elizabeth Beisel more than halfway through the race, before pulling away with a superb freestyle leg to bring home the Olympic gold medal and the world record in a sterling time of 4:28.43. Her spectacular swim also demolished the previous standard from Australia's Stephanie Rice in Beijing four years earlier by more than a second.[2][3] Meanwhile, Beisel enjoyed the race with a powerful lead on the breaststroke leg, but felt satisfied to claim the silver in 4:31.27.[4][5] Ye's teammate Li Xuanxu stormed home on the final stretch to grab a bronze in 4:32.91, edging out Hungary's early leader Katinka Hosszú (4:33.49) by more than half a second (0.50).[6]
Great Britain's home favorite Hannah Miley finished fifth in 4:34.17, while Rice, the defending Olympic champion, matched United States' Caitlin Leverenz with an unexpected sixth-place time in 4:35.49.[7][8] Spain's Mireia Belmonte García rounded out the final roster in 4:35.62.[6]