Versatile Zimbabwean Kirsty Coventry won the Olympic gold medal by shattering the world record 0.85 seconds in the women's 200m backstroke final at Beijing Olympics on Saturday morning.

With a solid start, Coventry managed to lead off the field and touched the wall with half body length advantage at 2:05.24, 0.99 seconds faster than the world record holder Margaret Hoelzer from the United States who finished second.

"I'm so thrilled. I'm about to throw up. I'm excited to hear the national anthem play and for everyone back home to hear it."

"It was a painful race and my legs hurt a bit. It was my last race and I wanted to give it everything," Coventry said after the race.

Japanese Reiko Nakamura, who made her first final at the Olympic event, finished third with a new Asian record of 2:07.13.

Nakamura said that the storage of strength in the first 150m helped her charge to the third.

"I think the crucial point was that I saved energy within the first 150m and gave it my all in the last 50m."

"In the last part of the race my legs were nearly dying, but I kept putting effort in and I was able to swim all the way," Nakamura said.

Coventry already bagged three silver medals in the previous races, and seven of the total eight Olympic medals Zimbabwe collected at all games were won the legend.

(Xinhua News Agency Agusut 16, 2008)