U.S. women get bronze in 4X200M freestyle

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BEIJING -- The U.S. team of Allison Schmitt (Canton, Mich.), Natalie Coughlin (Lafayette, Calif.), Caroline Burckle (Louisville, Ky.) and Katie Hoff (Towson, Md.) captured the bronze in the women’s 4x200-meter freestyle swimming event with a time of 7 minutes, 46.33 seconds.

Australia captured the victory with a world record time of 7:44.31. China placed second in 7:45.93.

The U.S. had held every gold medal in this event since it was first contested in 1996.

-- Debbie Goffa

Bronze medalist from the US Natalie Coughlin (L), Allison Schmitt (2nd L), Caroline Burckle (2nd R) and Kathryn Hoff pose with their medals on the podium during the women’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay swimming medal ceremony at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Timothy Clary /AFP/Getty Images