British prodigy Rebecca Adlington clinched the title for women's 800m freestyle race with a new world record at Beijing Olympics on Saturday morning.

British swimmer Rebecca Adlington clocked a new world record of 8:14.10 to win the women's 800m freestyle gold medal at the Olympic Games here on Saturday.[Xinhua Photo]

Adlington charged into the water and swam stroke by stroke with Romanian Alina Camelia Potec, the Olympic champion in the 200 meters in 2004, in the first 200 meters.

Then the 19-year-old established an obvious advantage in the latter part of the race, and, amid thundering roars of the spectators, touched the wall first with a new world record in 8:14.10, shaving the previous one 2.12 seconds which already stood 19 years long.

Italian Alessia Filippe finished second at 8:20.23, lagged 6.13 seconds behind by Adlington, but 2.80 seconds faster than Danish Lotte Friis in the third place.

Potec finished fourth at 8:23.11.

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2008)