University of Tennessee Athletics
U.S. 4x100 medley relay captures silver medal
August 16, 2008 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Aug. 16, 2008
BEIJING - Former Lady Vol Christine Magnuson captured her second silver medal on Saturday night as a member of the United States 4x100 medley relay at the National Aquatics Center at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The U.S. medley relay team set the American record with a time of 3:53.30 and was runner-up to Australia, who finished in a world record time of 3:52.69.
Magnuson posted a 56.14 split, swimming the butterfly stroke on the third leg. She started about a body length behind Australia's Jessica Schipper (56.25 split) and made up ground before hitting the wall for Dara Torres.
Joining Magnuson and Torres on the runner-up American squad was Natalie Coughlin and Rebecca Soni.
Australia's team was made up of Schipper, Libby Trickett, Emily Seebohm and Leisel Jones. Jones gave the Aussies a sizable lead, swimming the breast in 1:04.58 on the second leg.
Magnuson, using her unique side-breathing technique, became the first former Lady Vol to win an individual swimming medal in the Olympics on Sunday and broke Coughlin's American record in the fly last Saturday night, posting a 57.08.
Magnuson captured the 100m fly title at the Olympic Trials by swimming 58.11 in the finals. She was a 26-time All-American at Tennessee and just wrapped up her eligibility this past season.
She won the NCAA Championship in the 100y fly and was named SEC Female Swimmer of the Year this past winter.
She will return to Knoxville with a pair of silver medals.
