Stephanie Rice tossed a few concerns at her supporters in the lead-up to the 400m individual medley on Monday, when she complained about suffering soreness in her shoulder. She came out and won the gold medal, so we need not be too concerned about another hiccup heading into today's 200m medley final.

Rice, the world record holder, qualified second fastest for the final yesterday, a little under a second behind Kirsty Coventry, the Zimbabwean looking to reverse the result of the 400m where she collected the silver.

''It was a decent semi-final and the second fastest time I've swum, so I'm very happy, but there is still more I can focus on in the final and improve on,'' Rice said.

''But I'm probably not as great as I would like to be. It felt alright in the water but I'm starting to get a bit sick. I've got a bit of a sore throat and stuff, but I'm trying to shake that off as quickly as possible.''

Rice is attempting to continue a trend in the medley events at the Olympics.

At the past three Games, the same woman who won the 400m went on to win the 200m.

In Atlanta in 1996 it was Irishwoman Michelle Smith, then in both Sydney and Athens Ukrainian superstar Yana Klochkova won the double.

But Rice says she is not thinking about the 400m, and hasn't even thought about celebrating that earlier success until after her final race is over.

''The 200m is one of my main races and something I'm focusing on just as much as I did for the 400m. I'll try and enjoy all that other stuff after I finish racing.''

Rice will be joined in the final by 20-year-old Canberra-based swimmer Alicia Coutts who qualified in fifth spot for the final. ''It's amazing to be in the final. It's my dream. It's what I came here to and I'm glad that I'm in,'' Coutts said.

''I was coming in ranked eighth so there is always that little barrier ... can I go faster or will I miss out just?

''But I'm really happy.''