(CBS/AP)Continuing the American swim team's outstanding performances in the 2012 Olympics, Rebecca Soni set a world record Wednesday in the 200-meter semifinals for the breaststroke. She finished in a time of 2:20 on Wednesday night.
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The shattered 2:20.12 record had been set by Canadian Annamay Pierse at the World Championships in Rome in 2009.
Soni could get a chance to beat her own record Thursday night in the final in the 200-meter breaststroke. The New Jersey swimmer already has won a silver medal in the 100-meter breaststroke.
Soni shaved 0.12 seconds off the previous mark set by Pierse in a now-banned bodysuit.
It was the fifth world record set in the pool at these games.
Rikke Pedersen of Denmark qualified second in 2:22.23 and Satomi Suzuki of Japan was third in 2:22.40.
The top eight finishers qualified for Thursday's final.
Soni was also favored to win the 100 breast but took silver behind surprise 15-year-old winner Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania.
Meilutyte did not enter the 200.
