Coughlin’s world record evaporates in 100M backstroke

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Apparently, Natalie Coughlin knew what she was talking about when she said it would take a world record to win the 100-meter backstroke.

Sort of.

Coughlin’s world record evaporated on Monday morning -- in the semifinals -- in the second heat when Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe broke it, going 58.77 seconds. Coughlin had lowered her own mark at the U.S. Olympic trials on July 1, with 58.97.

Coughlin, swimming in the first heat, was the second-fastest qualifier for Tuesday’s final (59.43).

-- Lisa Dillman

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