US Women Win Gold, Set Medley World Record; Serena Williams Wins Gold

(AP) – The US set a world record to win the women's medley relay at the London Olympics today. The Americans clocked 3 minutes, 52.05 seconds, slicing 0.14 off the previous mark set by China at the 2009 world championships at the height of the high-tech bodysuit era. Missy Franklin swam the leadoff backstroke leg, Rebecca Soni did the breaststroke, Dana Vollmer competed in butterfly, and Allison Schmitt had the anchor leg in freestyle.

In other Olympic news, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica outleaned world champion Carmelita Jeter of the US and finished in 10.75 seconds today to win her second consecutive 100-meter Olympic gold medal. She delivered the second-fastest Olympic 100 in history to edge Jeter, whose time was 10.78. Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica, the 200 champion at the past two Summer Games, earned the bronze in 10.81. The last woman to win the dash twice in a row was Gail Devers of the US in 1992 and 1996.

Serena Williams

(AP) – Serena Williams became only the second woman to complete a career Golden Slam when she won her first singles gold medal today, beating Maria Sharapova 6-0, 6-1. The victory completed a remarkable run of domination by the No. 4-seeded Williams, who lost only 17 games in her six matches. She went 13-0 this summer at the All England Club, where she won her fifth Wimbledon title a month ago.

The career Golden Slam was first achieved by Steffi Graf, who did it when she won the Olympics in 1988 after winning all four major titles. Williams can add the gold medal to her 14 Grand Slam singles championships, the most of any active woman. And she's not done in London: Williams and sister Venus are pursuing their third gold in doubles and were to play in the semifinals later today.