At the 2008 Beijing Games, Muffat was an individual combination swimmer. Over the last couple years she has changed her focus to the 200 and 400 free. She was unsure that this decision was right or not but now she is pretty sure and happy about her decision.

Muffat expressed her feelings after the victory saying, “I’m relieved and happy, I haven’t thought about all the work, I was thinking about the other swimmers and my family.”

“Being an Olympic champion was the most difficult dream to reach. I knew this year I was the best, but I didn’t expect to win,” she added.

Beijing bronze medallist Schmitt was 0.34 seconds behind while Rebecca Adlington, 2008 gold medallist in both the 200 metres and 400 metres freestyle, claimed the bronze.

Adlington quoted as saying, “I did not expect a medal and it was a really tough race. The only disappointment is with the time.” “The crowd definitely lifted me to get that bronze medal,” she added