LONDON — Guo Wenjun hadn’t won anything, or even reached a final, for two years until she successfully defended her Olympic 10-meter air pistol title at the London Games.

The surprise gold medal, though, caps the happiest time in her life, she said.

Since winning in the Beijing Games on her home range, Guo has married and had a baby daughter. That’s why her results of late haven’t been anything to rave about, she said. When Guo competed in the Chinese Olympic trials almost a year ago, she was still breastfeeding. A Chinese reporter asked her if being a mother had doubled her workload as an elite athlete.

"I don’t think so," she said, "because that’s what I would do anyway."

Two other Beijing teammates and gold medalists, Chen Ying and Du Li, have also married and had children since.

It all adds up to Guo rating this second gold medal in London higher than the first.

"Beijing was my first Olympics, I didn’t really think too much, I did an OK job, I hadn’t set a goal," she said. "This time I had more desire. I had a goal and worked very hard and achieved my goal. That’s why I’m more excited and this (gold) is more important to me."

Guo nearly missed the gold medal, but pulled off a stunning near-perfect last shot in the final to prevail. She scored 10.8 out of 10.9 with her 10th shot to rise above leader Celine Goberville of France, who blew the gold with an 8.8 and fell into a second-placed tie with Olena Kostevych of Ukraine.

As Guo celebrated with her teammates and coaches, Goberville won the one-shot shootoff 10.6 to 9.7 to win the silver medal in her first games. Kostevych, the 2004 Olympic champion, settled for bronze.

"I’m full of admiration for that performance," Goberville said of Guo. "Winning twice in a row is absolutely amazing."