Natalie Coughlin Breaks 100-meter Backstroke World Record at 2008 Missouri GP

Olympic gold medalist Natalie Coughlin shocked the crowd and herself with her 100m back world-record breaking swim Sunday night during prelims at The 2008 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 swimsuit 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 2008 Missouri Grand Prix concludes Monday, 18 February. The competition will include the men’s and women’s 100m fly, 100m back, 100m breast, 200m IM, 400m medley relay, the men’s 1500m free, and the women’s 800m free. View full results of the 2008 Missouri Grand Prix from the Mizzou Aquatic Center on-line.