LONDON: China's Ye Shiwen unleashed a withering burst to claim Olympic gold in the women's 400m medley in world record time at the London Olympics on Saturday.
The 16-year-old overwhelmed American world champion Elizabeth Beisel to win the final in four minutes 28.43 seconds to cap a glittering night for China in the pool following Sun Yang's victory in the men's 400m freestyle.
Ye put in a storming final freestyle leg to shatter the previous record of 4:29.45, set by Australian Stephanie Rice en route to gold at the Beijing Games four years ago.
So supercharged was Ye's finish that she powered under the world record on the back of a 28.93sec final lap to leave her rivals in her wake.
Beisel finished with silver in 4:31.27 with Ye's teammate Li Xuanxu taking the bronze in 4:32.91.
Defending champion Rice trailed in sixth in 4:35.49 with British hope and world silver medallist Hannah Miley fifth in 4:34.17.
"I think under the circumstances, it proves I am not fit enough to back up two top-class swims, I didn't really cruise through the heats," said Rice.
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