World champion Jiao captures butterfly gold

Jiao Liuyang performs in women's 200m butterfly at London Olylmpics on August 1, 2012. [Photo / Xinhua]

Related: Jiao Liuyang: I'm my own competitor

LONDON -- China's world champion Jiao Liuyang posted super-fast final 50m sprint to capture gold medal in women's 200m butterfly at London Olympics on Wednesday.

Jiao, champion at the Shanghai World Championships last year, was the quickest off starting block. She maintained her strengthen in the first 50m, hanging on to let defending champion Liu Zige to lead the field.

After a fifth position after the first half of the race, Jiao caught on and seized the second place behind Spainish swimmer Mireia Belmonte Garcia before the last lap.

Jiao, silver medalist at Beijing Olympics, produced a devastating last 50m sprint, flew over a startled Belmonte to touch the wall first in 2:04.06.

She shattered the previous Olympic record of 2:04.18 held by compatriot Liu from Beijing Games.

Belmonte settled for the silver medal in 2:05.25. The bronze medal went to Japanese swimmer Natsumi Hoshi in 2:05.48.

Liu, defending Olympic champion and world record holder, slipped from the first position at the turn to the third before the last lap, but faded in the final 50m to get a last place at the end.

Jiao added the fourth pool gold medal for China at London Olympics.