LONDON - Melissa Franklin of the United States has broken the world record in the women’s 200 metres backstroke.

Franklin clocked 2:04.06, beating the mark of 2:04.81 set by Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe winnign gold at the 2009 Worlds in Rome.

World record evolution (Time, Name/Nationality, Place, Date):
2:04.06 Melissa Franklin USA London 03.08.12
2:04.81 Kirsty Coventry ZIM Rome 01.08.09
2:05.24 Kirsty Coventry ZIM Beijing 16.08.08
2:06.09 Margaret Hoelzer USA Omaha 05.07.08
2:06.39 Kirsty Coventry ZIM Columbia 16.02.08
2:06.62 Krisztina Egerszegi HUN Athens 25.08.91

On Monday, the American Franklin won the Olympic title in the 100m backstroke in a National record of 58.33.