Soni, who swims in her strongest event, already blistered through her heat with an Olympic record 2:22.17, and cruised into the final on top of the namelist, leaving little doubt she was the swimmer to win.

Although the 21-year-old said she was nervous all day yesterday and this morning, the pressure is acturally off for her since the Southern California University swimming star already shined by presenting an unexpected silver medal performance in 100 breast Tuesday.

"It just flowed. I tried to keep my stroke strong. It's something I've been working on through the trials," Soni said.

Jones explained the failure of her second bid for the 200m breast to some breathing problem in the final 50m.

"I just cannot breathe in the last 50 (metes), so it happened in the past. I did my best," said Jones, who already snatch the title for women's 100m breaststroke race on Tuesday morning.

"I'm definitely not disappointed. It is probably more relief than anything," Jones said after the race, adding that a silver medal is enough for her to feel happy.

" I gave it everything I had, I couldn't have given it any more," the 23-year-old Aussie said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2008)