British dressage prodigy Charlotte Dujardin rewrote history for the second time this week as she beat her own coach to claim a sensational gold on her Olympic debut.
To the emotive strains of Land of Hope and Glory and the chimes of Big Ben, the 27-year-old pulled off an exquisite performance before throwing her arms around her talented horse in sheer delight.
Charlotte Dujardin beat her own coach to claim gold
The stunning ride left her trainer, British dressage stalwart Carl Hester, in fifth while her delighted team-mate Laura Bechtolsheimer claimed bronze.
Dujardin's victory comes after her team tore up the record books to take gold on Tuesday, collecting Britain's first Olympic dressage medal and ending Germany's stranglehold on the sport.
The rider's emotion as she claimed the title was not lost on the 23,000 spectators who watched in silent awe earlier as Dujardin raised the dressage bar to a new level.
Her unashamedly patriotic routine brought the crowd to its feet as one, drawing what must have been the loudest standing ovation of the equestrian events.
And her score in the individual freestyle to music competition - of 90.089% - not only bettered Hester's 82.857% but also set a new Olympic record.
It is all the more remarkable, given her background.
Less than two years ago, Dujardin had never ridden an Olympic-level dressage test.
Today's gold at Greenwich Park makes London 2012 the most successful Games in Olympic history for Britain's equestrian team.
The dressage finale followed an agonising individual contest for Britain's showjumpers yesterday afternoon.
But that disappointment was all but forgotten when Dujardin entered the spectacular arena aboard her mount Valegro.
The dark bay gelding - known as Blueberry - appeared to float across the sand as the familiar strains of I Vow to Thee, My Country played out across London's oldest royal park.
Her choice of music clearly resonated with the partisan crowd and even those unfamiliar with the sport appeared moved by the elegant harmony between horse and rider.
She finished her routine to massive cheers before throwing her arms around Valegro's neck, seemingly overcome with emotion, as her score was announced.
Dujardin then covered her mouth with her hands in apparent amazement before she embraced Hester in unbridled delight.
Dujardin, from Newent, Gloucestershire, had been the gold medal favourite.
Team-mates Hester, 45, and Bechtolsheimer, the 27-year-old granddaughter of German billionaire property magnate Karl-Heinz Kipp, were among her biggest threats, alongside Holland's Adelinde Cornelissen.
In the event, Hester's test was short of the medal mark but Bechtolsheimer finished on 84.339%, meaning Britain could take two places on the podium, with Cornelissen claiming silver with 88.250%.
Dujardin has risen swiftly up the ranks of her sport.
Her presence on the dressage world stage was cemented when she set a British record as she trialled today's routine at Hartpury in Gloucestershire last month.
On that occasion she finished on a staggering 90.65%.
She waved proudly to the crowd as she was finally presented with her gold medal before - still wearing her crash helmet - she hugged her team-mate and hopped back on Valegro, wiping tears from her eyes.