Congratulations, USA!!!

Michael Phelps won his second gold medal of the 2008 Games on Monday, with a victory by the United States in the 4x100 freestyle relay. The U.S. finished first in 3 minutes 8.24 seconds, smashing the world record by nearly 4 seconds, with France taking silver and Australia getting bronze.

Jason Lezak provided an incredible performance in the anchor leg, coming from behind to out-touch France’s Alain Bernard.

The U.S. relay team had felt strong entering the race, after a world-record performance by the B team in the heats on Sunday night. The Americans Nathan Adrian, Cullen Jones, Ben Wildman-Tobriner and Matt Grevers finished the freestyle relay in 3:12.23 seconds, 0.23 seconds faster than the world record set two years ago at the Pan-Pacific Championships by the United States A team.

U.S. 4x100 Wins Gold in Record Time New York Times August 11, 2008; Photo: Reuters.

Also participating: Garrett Weber-Gale (pictured in the photo with Phelps) and Bronx, NY born Cullen Jones.

Alain Bernard previously boasted that the French would "smash the Americans" in the competition. Nothing like a little friendly rivalry between Nation-States. ;-)