SWIMMING: Natalie Coughlin Breaks 100m Back World Record at The Missouri Grand Prix

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008 Contact: Karen Linhart (719-866-3588 / klinhart@usaswimming.org) Natalie Coughlin Breaks 100m Back World Record at The Missouri Grand Prix Coughlin lowers her own world record with a time of 59.21 Columbia, Mo.-Olympic gold medalist Natalie Coughlin (Vallejo, Calif.) shocked the crowd and herself with her 100m back world-record breaking swim Sunday night at The Missouri Grand Prix. She lowered her previous world record in the event by more than two tenths with a time of 59.21."If you could see my face, I was slightly shocked,"Coughlin said following the race."I was thinking about BBQ and no warm down. It was a strange race. I really didn't expect it."Coughlin, who was wearing the new Speedo LZR RACER suit during her swim, was over four tenths behind world-record pace after the first 50 meters, however, a strong second leg propelled her ahead of the field to break her former world record, set at World Championships in March of 2007. The Missouri Grand Prix concludes Monday with 12 events. The competition will start at 9 a.m. and will include the men's and women's 100m fly, 100m back, 100m breast, 200m I.M, 400m medley relay, the men's 1500m free, and the women's 800m free. Check usaswimming.org for results and highlights. About USA Swimming As the National Governing Body for competitive swimming in the United States, USA Swimming formulates the rules, implements policies and procedures, conducts national championships, disseminates safety and sports medicine information and selects athletes to represent the United States in international competition. USA Swimming has more than 300,000 members nationwide and sanctions more than 7,000 events each year. For more information, visit usaswimming.org.