SYDNEY – U.S. swimmer Tom Malchow set an Olympic record in the 200-meter butterfly this morning at 1:56.25, easily earning his way to the semis. Malchow, 24, already holds the world record in the race, at 1:55.18, set last June in Charlotte.

The combination of the new fastskin body suits used by many swimmers, including Malchow, and the belief that Sydney’s pool is fast, has led to eight world and 15 Olympic records to be set in just over two days.

Later this morning, New Yorker Cristina Teuscher placed fifth in the 200-meter individual medley heats, thus advancing to tomorrow’s semis, Teuscher, 22, from New Rochelle, posted a time of 2:14.17. The Olympic record is 2:11.65.

The Columbia University grad won a gold on the 800-meter relay team in Atlanta. In today’s race, Teuscher came from third place after the butterfly to lead the field after 150 meters, finishing the second fastest backstroke 50 meters for the day.

The U.S. will have two swimmers in the finals as Gabrielle Rose, who holds dual citizenship with Brazil and swam for that country in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, also qualified.