University of Tennessee Athletics
Magnuson breaks American 100 Fly Record
August 09, 2008 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Photos from Coach Matt Kredich
BEIJING, China. ??? Christine Magnuson broke the American record in the 100m butterfly, while qualifying for the finals in the event on Saturday night at the National Aquatics Center at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
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Magnuson swam a time of a 57.08 to break Natalie Coughlin???s old American record of 57.34.
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The Tinley Park, Ill., finished just .03 behind reigning world champion Libby Trickett of Australia in the first semifinal of the 100m fly and will be seeded second in Sunday night???s finals.
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She was third at the turn and split 26.79 at the halfway mark before overtaking Great Britain???s Jemma Lowe and holding off Li Tao of Singapore for second.
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Magnuson has the opportunity to become the first former Lad Vol swimmer to win an individual medal at the Olympics. Her chief competition in the event will be Australia???s Trickett and Jessicah Schipper, who won the second semifinal in 57.43. Trickett???s top time is 56.81, while Schipper has gone 57.31.
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Magnuson opened her first-ever Olympic competition by winning her preliminary heat in the 100m fly in 57.70. on Saturday morning.
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Magnuson???s previous career best before Saturday night was 57.50, which she set in the semifinals of the Olympic Trials in June.
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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.
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She won the NCAA Championship in the 100y fly and was named SEC Female Swimmer of the Year this past winter.
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The semifinals were shown live on NBC. The finals are scheduled to begin at 10:24 p.m. on Sunday night. NBC will be providing swimming coverage from 7p.m. to midnight.
