LONDON, England (AFP) — Former world champion Mariana Pajon of Colombia won gold in the women's BMX final after finishing ahead of New Zealand's Sarah Walker and Dutchwoman Laura Smulders yesterday.

Walker took the silver medal with Smulders winning the bronze.

Pajon burst down the start ramp and took the lead from the outset on the 440m women's circuit and was never in danger of being overtaken.

British gold medal hope Shanaze Reade lost ground midway through the race and eventually finished sixth, one place behind Australia's Caroline Buchanan.

Pajon, at 20 years old the second youngest in the final behind 18-year-old Smulders, was one of the standout performers in the whole competition having won all three of her semi-final races on the way to the final.

"I can't believe it. It's like a dream come true," said Pajon, who claimed the women's world title in Copenhagen in 2011.

The girl, who started riding her bike at the age of four around her home town of Medellin, added: "I won the three motos (races) and the final. I felt really strong, I had really good gates and that's it. I really had fun."