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U.S. relay team sets Olympic record Associated Press SYDNEY, Australia -- Jenny Thompson won a record seventh gold medal after anchoring the United States to victory in the 800-meter freestyle relay over the host Aussies. The 27-year-old Thompson snapped a tie with Germany's Kristin Otto in career golds by a woman swimmer, while tying gymnast Vera Caslavska of the Czech Republic for the second-most Olympic golds by a woman. "Lucky number seven. I'd like to get a couple more," said Thompson, who has the 100 freestyle and another relay remaining. The U.S. team of Samantha Arsenault, Diana Munz, Lindsay Benko and Thompson won in an Olympic record 7 minutes, 57.80 seconds, breaking the old mark of 7:59.87 set by the Americans at the 1996 Olympics. Thompson of Dover, N.H., also tied Australian Dawn Fraser, Kornelia Ender of Germany and fellow American Shirley Babashoff for most Olympic medals by a woman swimmer with eight. Seven of Thompson's medals have come in relays; she won a silver in the 100 freestyle at the 1992 Olympics. Australia earned silver in 7:58.52. Germany won bronze in 7:58.64. The Americans are 2-0 in the women's relays so far. Thompson swam the anchor leg of the winning 400 freestyle relay Saturday for her sixth career gold. Arsenault led off for the Americans and had them in sixth place after 200 meters, while O'Neill had the Australians in first. Munz pulled the Americans into second at 400 meters, and Benko kept them there to set up Thompson. As Thompson overtook Petria Thomas, Benko pounded on the starting block in Lane 4. "It was nerve-wracking going last because the race was neck-and-neck the whole way, but I had faith in myself," Thompson said. "This is pretty sweet." |  | ALSO SEE Swimming results USA's Hyman stuns O'Neill to win gold in 200 butterfly Krayzelburg, Thompson advance for U.S. swimming | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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