BEIJING -- Australian swimmer Leisel Jones won the 100-meter breaststroke here Tuesday, putting the long-awaited Olympic gold into her pocket.

Gold medallist Leisel Jones of Australia (R) hugs bronze medallist Mirna Jukic of Austria after winning the women's 100 meters breaststroke final at the National Aquatics Center during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 12, 2008.  [Agencies]

Jones led the race to the finish and touched the wall in one minutes,05.17 seconds, only 0.08 seconds off her own world record. In Athens, she was defeated by Chinese swimmer Luo Xuejuan and teammate Brooke Hanson, settling for a bronze.

US swimmer Rebecca Soni was second after Jones. Rebecca got the chance to race in the 100m breaststroke only several days before the Olympics when Jessica Hardy withdrew from the Olympics following a positive test of banned substance.

Austria's Jukic Mirna won bronze in 1:07.34. Chinese Olympic debutant Sun Ye finished seventh.