Jessica Wins Gold in China

Ellesmere College Titan Jessica Dickons lifted Great Britain’s first aquatics gold of the 2011 World University Games in China, clinching the 200m Butterfly title in a last-gasp dash to the wall.

The University of Bath swimmer was locked in a marathon tussle with Japan's Natsumi Hoshi but timed her finish to perfection to touch 0.03 seconds clear in 2:08.91.

Dickons is no stranger to the international podium, having won 200m Butterfly bronze at both the 2008 World Short Course Championships and 2006 European Short Course Championships.

Major Return to Form

Her time - the third quickest of her career - signals a major return to form in the long course pool where she hadn't ducked under 2:10.2 since 2008.

And despite claiming the scalp of Hoshi - who finished fourth in the same event at last month's World Championships - Dickons insisted she hadn't expected to be topping the podium in Shenzhen.

"I was absolutely stunned when I looked up at the scoreboard," said Dickons. "I'm really happy and I did a pretty quick time but I didn't think I'd be winning a gold medal. I’m just so proud”.