updated 8:21 p.m. ET Aug. 20, 2004

ATHENS, Greece - Ai Shibata of Japan won Olympic gold in the 800-meter freestyle Friday night, ending the United States’ dominance of the event.

Shibata finished in 8 minutes, 25.54 seconds to earn her first major international medal. She was fifth in the 400 freestyle in Athens.

Laure Manaudou of France earned silver in 8:24.96 for her third medal of these games. She won gold in the 400 freestyle and bronze in the 100 backstroke.

Diana Munz of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, won bronze in 8:26.61, overtaking teammate Kalyn Keller of Phoenix in the closing meters. Keller was fourth in 8:26.97.

Americans had won the event in five consecutive Olympics, including back-to-back titles by Janet Evans in 1988 and 1992 and Brooke Bennett in 1996 and 2000. Tiffany Cohen started the streak at the boycotted 1984 Los Angeles Games.

Swimming - Women's 800-meter Freestyle (medals: Aug. 20th) Medal Athlete Country Result Gold Ai Shibata Japan 8:24.54 Silver Laure Manaudou France 8:24.96 Bronze Diana Munz United States 8:26.6 NBCO: Schedules, preliminary result and complete final results

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