Coventry breaks 100 backstroke record

BEIJING (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry set a world record of 58.77 seconds in the semi-finals of the women's 100 meters backstroke on Monday.

Coventry slashed 0.20 off the previous record of 58.97 set by Natalie Coughlin at last month's U.S. Olympic trials.

Coventry, who won the 200 backstroke gold medal at the Athens Olympics, was 0.41 outside Coughlin's mark when she turned for home but powered down the last length to establish a new mark.

Coventry's record was the fourth new record set at the Water Cube in the first three days of competition. The 24-year-old also went under the world record in Sunday's 400 individual medley final but finished second behind Australia's Stephanie Rice.

(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

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