Jiao Liuyang of China won the fourth swimming gold for the host nation at the 14th FINA World Championships as the 19-year-old clinched the women's 200m butterfly title Thursday.

Jiao, runner-up of the event at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, led from start to finish to win the gold in 2:05.55. British Ellen Gandy surpassed Chinese Liu Zige to take the silver in 2:05.59. Olympic champion Liu settled for the bronze at 2:05.90. Liu was the defending champion from Rome in 2009 and the world record holder at 2:01.81.

Liu seemed not in her best form at the Shanghai worlds, as the butterfly specialist failed to win a medal in the 100m fly on Sunday.

Jiao, who just claimed the gold of the event at the World Military Games in Brazil on July 17, was quite in shape.

"I was quite relaxed before the final," said the winner, also the Asian champion of the event. "Because I just returned from Brazil and was very tired. I think Zige is under big pressure, since she holds the world record. And I just followed my feelings in the final."

"I think maybe there is some problem in my training before the worlds," said the 21-year-old Liu, the world record holder of the 200m fly. "But the result is OK. I didn't feel well in the 100m fly and my coach and I tried to solve the problem, but we don't have enough time to adjust to the best."

The runner-up was happy with her result. "It is not within your control. But I feel strangely calm. I feel better, the game is amazing," she said. "The Chinese girls are faster. I just come for next year. I am going to have a holiday, I will enjoy sunshine with my family."

Australia's star swimmer Stephanie Rice finished fifth in 2:06.08, and her teammate, defending champion Jessicah Schipper placed the last in 2:06.64.