Jiao storms to gold in new Games mark
Source: Agencies |
August 3, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINESE world champion Jiao Liuyang went one better than her Beijing silver medal to claim the women's 200-meter butterfly final on Wednesday.
Jiao, who turns 21 next week, set an Olympic record 2:04.06 to beat Spain's Mireia Belmonte Garcia and Natsumi Hoshi of Japan.
She was the runner-up to teammate Liu Zige in the event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but finished well in front this time in the London final.
Jiao admitted she almost gave up the sport after fitness and attitude issues. "I thought about giving up, the most difficult time for me was in 2009.
"I wasn't in my best condition, mentally I wasn't that strong and I didn't always agree with my coach, so I had to change my technique.
"Four years ago (in the Beijing final) I tried to catch Liu Zige but failed, this time I was able to catch her. That was the difference. At the world championships, I said if she (Liu Zige) failed, I would get the gold, if I failed she would get the gold."
Liu, who led after the first 50 meters and was second at halfway, faded to finish eighth.
"I feel really disappointed. I didn't expect the result would be this bad," Liu said. "I lost probably because I didn't practice well."
Elsewhere, American Nathan Adrian edged James Magnussen by a fingertip to win the coveted 100 freestyle gold, just one of the thrillers on a night that saw two world records fall.
Adrian clocked 47.52 seconds, beating the Australian sprint powerhouse by one one-hundredth of a second and becoming the first American since Matt Biondi in 1988 to win Olympic swimming's blue riband event.
"I have big hands, I guess," Adrian quipped of the margin of victory over Magnussen, who was fifth at the turn - two spots behind Adrian - but poured it on in the final 50 meters to make a race of it.
Magnussen took silver in 47.53 and Canada's Brent Hayden - second behind Magnussen at last year's worlds - earned bronze in 47.80.
Hungarian Daniel Gyurta got the evening off to a rollicking start with a world-record victory in the men's 200 breaststroke.
Rebecca Soni added another world record in the semifinals of the women's 200 breaststroke, advancing in emphatic style in her defense of the title she won in Beijing.
"Now I am overshadowed by Reb setting a world record," Adrian jokingly complained.
First, however, it was Gyurta's turn. The two-time world and European champion had seized the lead from defending Olympic gold medalist Kosuke Kitajima by the final turn and stormed home with Britain's Michael Jamieson pushing him all the way.
Gyurta won in 2:07.28. Jamieson took silver in 2:07.43 and Japan's Ryo Tateishi sneaked past the fading Kitajima to claim bronze in 2:08.29.
Jiao, who turns 21 next week, set an Olympic record 2:04.06 to beat Spain's Mireia Belmonte Garcia and Natsumi Hoshi of Japan.
She was the runner-up to teammate Liu Zige in the event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but finished well in front this time in the London final.
Jiao admitted she almost gave up the sport after fitness and attitude issues. "I thought about giving up, the most difficult time for me was in 2009.
"I wasn't in my best condition, mentally I wasn't that strong and I didn't always agree with my coach, so I had to change my technique.
"Four years ago (in the Beijing final) I tried to catch Liu Zige but failed, this time I was able to catch her. That was the difference. At the world championships, I said if she (Liu Zige) failed, I would get the gold, if I failed she would get the gold."
Liu, who led after the first 50 meters and was second at halfway, faded to finish eighth.
"I feel really disappointed. I didn't expect the result would be this bad," Liu said. "I lost probably because I didn't practice well."
Elsewhere, American Nathan Adrian edged James Magnussen by a fingertip to win the coveted 100 freestyle gold, just one of the thrillers on a night that saw two world records fall.
Adrian clocked 47.52 seconds, beating the Australian sprint powerhouse by one one-hundredth of a second and becoming the first American since Matt Biondi in 1988 to win Olympic swimming's blue riband event.
"I have big hands, I guess," Adrian quipped of the margin of victory over Magnussen, who was fifth at the turn - two spots behind Adrian - but poured it on in the final 50 meters to make a race of it.
Magnussen took silver in 47.53 and Canada's Brent Hayden - second behind Magnussen at last year's worlds - earned bronze in 47.80.
Hungarian Daniel Gyurta got the evening off to a rollicking start with a world-record victory in the men's 200 breaststroke.
Rebecca Soni added another world record in the semifinals of the women's 200 breaststroke, advancing in emphatic style in her defense of the title she won in Beijing.
"Now I am overshadowed by Reb setting a world record," Adrian jokingly complained.
First, however, it was Gyurta's turn. The two-time world and European champion had seized the lead from defending Olympic gold medalist Kosuke Kitajima by the final turn and stormed home with Britain's Michael Jamieson pushing him all the way.
Gyurta won in 2:07.28. Jamieson took silver in 2:07.43 and Japan's Ryo Tateishi sneaked past the fading Kitajima to claim bronze in 2:08.29.
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