Australia's female swim team won Australia its first gold medals of the 2012 games, while asetting a new world record for the event: three minutes, 33.15 seconds.
The Australian quartet of Alicia Coutts, Cate Campbell, Brittany Elmslie and Melanie Schlanger won gold in a combined time of three minutes, 33.15 seconds.
The Netherlands, who had won the gold at the last Olympics and the previous two world championships, flashed home to finish second and grab the silver medal in 3:33.79.
The United States finished third to provide Colorado teenager Missy Franklin with her first Olympic medal and Natalie Coughlin her 12th, matching the record for an American female athlete at the Olympics.
Franklin, who is swimming seven events in London, gave the Americans a flying start when she led after the lead-off leg. The U.S. were still ahead at the halfway stage but Australia took over on the third leg and never surrendered their lead.
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