Australian cyclist Anna Meares set a world record to win the Olympic 500-metre time trial at the Athens Games on Friday, becoming the first woman to go under 34 seconds.

Meares, who might not even have been competing had it not been for an injury to her elder sister Kerrie Meares, completed the two laps of the velodrome in 33.952 seconds.

China's Jiang Yonghua, who had set the previous world best of 34.000 seconds, took the silver medal in 34.112.

Natallia Tsylinskaya of Belarus, three times a time trial world champion, took bronze in 34.167.