China beats US in women's 800 free relay with world record (Pictures)

Yang Yu of China competes to win a gold medal in the women's 4 X 200m freestyle swimming final at the World Championships in Rome July 30, 2009. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini

China's relay team cheers on the last relay team mate Pang Jiaying before they won the gold medal in the women's 4 X 200m freestyle swimming final at the World Championships in Rome July 30, 2009. REUTERS/Tony Gentile

Members of the China team celebrate winning the gold medal in the women's 4 X 200m freestyle swimming final at the World Championships in Rome July 30, 2009. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh

Members of the China team celebrate on the podium winning the gold medal in the women's 4 X 200m freestyle swimming final at the World Championships in Rome July 30, 2009. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay

China crushed the world record in the women's 800 free relay at the FINA World Championships, beating US as No. 1, followed by U.S. and Great Britain.

China's contingent of Yang Yu (1:55.47), Zhu Qian Wei (1:55.79), Liu Jing (1:56.09) and Pang Jiaying (1:54.73) cut two seconds from the Australian world record of 7:44.31 set at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The Australia team featured Stephanie Rice (1:56.60), Bronte Barratt (1:56.58), Kylie Palmer (1:55.22) and Linda Mackenzie (1:55.91).

Allison Schmitt nearly closed the distance in the final 50 meters for the U.S., but failed as the U.S. foursome of Dana Vollmer (1:55.29), Lacey Nymeyer (1:57.88), Ariana Kukors (1:55.18) and Schmitt (1:54.21) put together an American record time of 7:42.56 to take silver. That time beat the American record of 7:46.33 also set in Beijing.

Great Britain's team of Joanne Jackson (1:55.98), Jazmin Carlin (1:56.78), Caitlin McClatchey (1:56.42) and Rebecca Adlington (1:56.33) completed the podium with a 7:45.51.