American Natalie Coughlin held off Zimbabwe's fast-finishing Kirsty Coventry to clinch the women's 100m backstroke final in Athens. The world record holder got off to a flying start but tired and just managed to win in one minute, 00.37 seconds with France's Laure Manaudou third.
China's Luo Xuejuan shocked favourite, world record holder Leisel Jones, to win the women's 100m breaststroke.
The Australian settled for bronze while compatriot Brooke Hanson took silver.
Luo turned first at the halfway mark and pushed on to forge clear in the chase for home.
The world champion did enough to fend off the challenge of Jones and Hanson and was pleased with her performance from the outside lane.
 Luo won China's first swimming gold medal of the Games |
"Lane one is supposed to be the slowest lane but for me it's lucky," said Luo. "I was confident coming into the final even though my rivals were swimming faster and I am just so happy to win the gold medal."
Coughlin also got off to a flying start in the backstroke, opening up a big gap over the field through the first 150m.
But the 21-year-old tired coming into the wall and did well to cling on for her first Olympic gold.
The Californian became the first woman to break the one minute barrier across the distance in 2002 but struggled to convert her potential into medals.
Coughlin did claim the world title in 2001 but was struck down by a virus at last year's World Championships.
Her backstroke victory sees her pick up her second medal of the Games after her silver 4x100m freestyle relay medal.
MMIX
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