Silver medallist Ying Lu of China, gold medallist Dana Vollmer of the United States and bronze medallist Alicia Coutts of Australia pose on the podium during the medal ceremony on Day 2 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre on July 29, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
USA's Dana Vollmer had been the favourite coming into the final having set an Olympic record yesterday, a year after being crowned world champion in Shanghai.
Vollmer took 0.08 off Sarah Sjostrom's 2009 world record as she added the Olympic title to the gold she won in Athens in 2004 as a 16-year-old member of the triumphant 4 x 200m Freestyle squad.
Lu Ying of China was second in 56.87, with Alicia Coutts third 0.07 adrift.