Spain's Mireia Belmonte Garcia, China's Jiao Liuyang and Japan's Natsumi Hoshi pose with their medals during the women's 200m butterfly victory ceremony at the London 2012 Olympic Games
Spain's Mireia Belmonte Garcia, China's Jiao Liuyang and Japan's Natsumi Hoshi pose with their medals during the women's 200m butterfly victory ceremony at the London 2012 Olympic Games Reuters

Liuyang Jiao of China set an Olympic record in the 200 meter butterfly en route to her gold medal victory on Wednesday.

Jiao, a silver medalist in the event at the Beijing Games, swam a time of 2:04.06, while Mirieia Belmonte Garcia of Spain took silver, with 2:05.25. Japan's Natsumi Hoshi finished in 2:05.48 to clinch the bronze medal.

Kathleen Hersey of the United States narrowly missed the podium with a time of 2:05.78. Compatriot Cammile Adams finished fifth, while British hopeful Jemma Lowe took sixth.

Surprisingly, defending Olympic champion Zige Liu of China finished eighth with a time of 2:07.77, nearly four second slower than Jiao.

Jiao's victory gave China its fourth swimming gold medal of the Games thus far.

Gold China Silver China