Olympic swimming: Jiao wins 200m butterfly for China

London: Jiao Liuyang of China sped to gold in the women`s 200 metres butterfly at the London Olympics here Wednesday.

Jiao, the Beijing silver medallist at the age of 16, went one better this time to win in 2 minutes, 4.06 seconds, a new Olympic record. "It was my strategy to accelerate in the last 50, as in the semifinal I swam too fast in the first half and it made me really tired for the second half," Jiao said. "I am really happy but I still need to put more effort in training as it was not an easy win." Spain`s Mireia Belmonte Garcia won a surprise silver in 2:05.28, while Japan`s Natsumi Hoshi took the bronze in 2.05.48. "I felt nervous but strong. I feel like I`ve achieved a dream," Belmonte Garcia said. "I thought nothing as I left the pool. My mind went blank." IANS