BEIJING — Aksana Miankova of Belarus has won the gold medal in the women's hammer throw in an Olympic record.

Miankova, who entered the games with the third best throw of all time after two Russians who were either banned or under investigation for anti-doping violations, set the record with her next-to-last mark of 250 feet, 5 inches on Wednesday.

Two-time world champion and Athens 2004 silver medalist Yipsi Moreno of Cuba hit the lead briefly at 245-1 in the fifth of six rounds. She finished with silver at 246-8.

China's Zhang Wenxiu had the crowd on its feet and roaring louder with each of her six attempts, the world championship bronze medalist finishing third at 243-10.