After three Olympics and 12 long years, British rower Katherine Grainger has finally won her elusive gold medal, which she has dubbed "the people's medal".
With the help of her doubles sculling partner Anna Watkins, Grainger's dreams of winning gold at an Olympics have been realised at London 2012.
Grainger and Watkins celebrate taking gold in the women's double sculls
Beating the Australians by a length, the pair were leading the race from the start, with Grainger and her steely determination stroking the boat.
Team GB saw off the competition immediately, pushing off hard and delivering clean, strong strokes - ensuring they were ahead of their Australian challengers.
During the middle half, the pair, who have been unbeaten for two years, began moving away and easing out, putting clear water between their stern and the Australian bow.
The focus and control emitted from the British boat saw the women stride ahead, spurred on by a roaring crowd, and secure first place on the podium.
After Grainger's devastation at failing to gain gold at Beijing, particularly as her quad were tipped for success, she was considering retiring from the sport.
But her agonising 12-year wait finally came to an end and the athlete was visibly euphoric as she crossed the finishing line, mouthing "Oh my God".
Attempting to express her overwhelming delight at winning gold, Grainger, who was appointed an MBE in 2006, told the BBC: "I feel this medal out of all of them is the people's medal."
Watkins said after the race: "I just can't believe it. I had to asked Katherine if it was a dream. I can't quite believe it's got to this point."
The two women have been unbeaten in 22 races since pairing up in 2010 and the pair's victory boosts Great Britain to fourth place on the medals table.
Lyndsay Henderson, 32, from Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, was among the cheering fans as Grainger and Watkins struck gold.
She told the Press Association: "The atmosphere was electric. Everyone was screaming at the top of their voices and it was incredible to be a part of it.
"Well done to Katherine and Anna - awesome result!"
Earlier, Britons George Nash and William Satchel took bronze in the men's pair, while Alan Campbell put in the performance of his life to take third in the men's single scull.
