MOSCOW, August 12 (RIA Novosti) - Russia won its first swimming medal at the Beijing Olympics when Arkady Vyatchanin came third in the men's 100m backstroke on Tuesday.

The United States made it gold and silver as 2004 Olympic champion Aaron Peirsol broke his own world record to win in a time of 52.24 seconds with teammate Matt Grevers taking second place in 53.11.

Vyatchanin, 24, and Australia's Hayden Stoeckel both came in third to share the bronze with a time of 53.18 seconds.

The swimming events were dominated by the U.S. with Natalie Coughlin successfully defending her title to win the women's 100m backstroke in 58.96 seconds.

American Michael Phelps broke the world record as he took his third gold medal of the games in the 200m freestyle with a time of 1:42.96 seconds.

Phelps, with six Olympic titles from the 2004 games, is looking to win an unprecedented eight gold medals in Beijing to take fellow American Mark Spitz's 1972 record of seven gold medals set at the Munich games.