The U.S. continued to their solid effort in swimming at the London Games, as Allison Schmitt earned gold by setting an Olympic record in the 200-meter freestyle with an almost two-second win over the second-place opponent.

The 22-year-old clocked in at 1:53.61. Camille Muffat of France took silver in 1:55.58, while Australian Bronte Barrett took the bronze over American starlet Missy Franklin by a thousandth of a second.

Barrett touched the wall at 1:55.81, while the 17-year-old Franklin clocked in 1:55.82.

"I was just racing," said Schmitt, who attends the University of Georgia. "I knew I had to kick it. I just look at that scoreboard and see 53 and first place. I couldn't be happier."

With the gold-medal effort, Schmitt has emerged as a more than a quiet star. The Pittsburgh native now has a gold medal, a silver in the 400-meter freestyle, and a bronze in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay this summer. In 2008, Schmitt was part of the 4x200-meter freestyle relay that took the bronze.

Franklin's failure to win a medal in the event was a surprise to many, as she has been among the most prolific swimmers this summer. She earned the gold in the 100-backstroke on Monday. Franklin still has four more events at the London Games.

"I was trying to do the best that I can," she said after the event.

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