Defending champions the United States gave the Olympic swimming competition a perfect ending Saturday when they broke their own world record to seize the men's 4x100m medley relay title.

American swimmers show their gold medals at the reward podium for the men's 4x100 medley relay which they won with a world record of 3:30.68 at the 28th Olympic Games, August 21, 2004.

In the last event of the swimming competition, the United States touched in three minutes 30.68 seconds to better their own world mark of 3:31.54 set in last year's Barcelona world championships.

Using the same line-up as at the worlds, 100m and 200m backstroke winner Aaron Peirsol swam within the world record before 100m and 200m breaststroke world record holder Brendan Hansen and 100m butterfly world record holder Ian Crocker kept the fast pace.

Jason Lezak held the lead through to wrap up the victory while Germany finished in a distant second in 3:33.62.

Japan, featuring 100m and 200m breaststroke winner Kosuke Kitajima, took bronze in 3:35.22.

Following are the men's 4x100m medley relay results at the Olympic Games here on Saturday:

1. United States, 3:30.68 world record

2. Germany, 3:33.62

3. Japan, 3:35.22

4. Russia, 3:35.91

5. France, 3:36.57

6. Ukraine, 3:36.87

7. Hungary, 3:37.46

8. Britain, 3:37.77