LONDON, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Rebecca Soni won the gold medal and broke the world record that she had set just 24 hours earlier in the women's 200 meters breaststroke final on Thursday night.

Soni became the first woman to swim below 2:20 in the event as she produced a time of 2:19.59. to confirm her dominance in the event.

The 25-year-old had been hot favorite for the gold medal after setting a time of 2:20.00 in the semi-final, after which she had said she had felt good and wanted to see how much she could 'push it.'

She 'pushed it again on Thursday and although she trailed South Africa's Suzaan van Biljon at the end of the first lap, but had begun to establish her dominance by the end of the second, from which she continued to power ahead into open water.

Her win means she is the first gold medalist from Beijing to successfully defend their title in London.

Japan's Satomi Suzuki won the silver medal with Iulia Efimova from Russia taking Bronze.