Golden joy for GB duo
Helen Glover & Heather Stanning won Britains' first gold of London 2012 with a dominant rowing win at Eton Dorney.
Last Updated: 01/08/12 5:26pm
Helen Glover & Heather Stanning broke Great Britain's golden drought in emphatic fashion as they powered to rowing gold at Eton Dorney.
The women's pair led from start to finish to become Britain's first ever female Olympic rowing champions, and get the host nation really involved on the medal table with the first gold of London 2012.
After setting a new Olympic record in making the final, Glover and Stanning shot out of the start and quickly moved ahead of a high quality field - taking a lead they never looked like losing.
Cheered on by a boisterous Princes William and Harry and the Princess Royal, Glover and Stanning kept their tempo up throughout and the only race was behind them for the minor placings.
It was Australia who came home second to pick up the silver ahead of world champions New Zealand but they were two and a half second behind the historic winners who pencilled their names into British rowing history.
The crowd roared as the emotional pair showed off their gold medals.
Glover appeared to be smiling in the last quarter of the race, but she said: "It was probably a grimace. I don't remember smiling because I remember never, ever, ever thinking we've got this."
She added that she hoped the performance would inspire others.
"If I can do it, just take the chance - not just rowing, anything. If you work hard, and try your best absolutely anyone can do anything."
Glover, 26, a former PE teacher from Penzance, Cornwall, has been rowing for only four years.
Stanning, 27, from Lossiemouth, Moray, is a Royal Artillery captain and the women were paired together just three years ago.