American Rebecca Soni broke the world record to win the women's 200m breaststroke gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Games on Friday.

Soni clocked in 2:20.22 to beat the previous world record of 2:20.54 set by Australian Leisel Jones in February, 2006.

Jones got the silver in 2:22.05 and Sara Nordenstam of Norway had the bronze in 2:23.02.

(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2008)