Coventry breaks 100m backstroke record

BEIJING (Reuters) - Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe broke the women's swimming 100 meters backstroke world record in the semi-finals at the Beijing Olympics on Monday.

Coventry clocked 58.77 to beat the previous world record of 58.97 seconds set by Natalie Coughlin of the United States at the U.S. Olympic trials on July 1.

(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

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