Another Games gold rush for Team GB

After Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson sailed to success in the Yngling regatta, rowers Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter stormed to a gold medal in the lightweight double sculls.

The jubilation went on as sailing great Ben Ainslie clinched a gold medal for the third consecutive games after winning the Finn regatta race. It took Team GB's gold tally to double figures.

Track cyclist Rebecca Romero then made a piece of British Olympic history, becoming the first UK woman to be presented with Olympic medals in two separate sports. She won gold in the women's 3000m individual pursuit, coming in just ahead of team-mate Wendy Houvenaghel, four years after taking a silver in rowing.

In what amounted to a two-horse race for the gold against the Netherlands in the Yngling class, Team GB came home in first place for the first time in the regatta.

Webb, who also won a gold in Athens four years ago, said she was speechless. The 31-year-old, from Weybridge, Surrey, said: "I'm lost for words, it is such a relief. Our experience was everything, we stayed sure and we got better."

It was also a repeat success for Ayton, 28, from Ashford, Middlesex. She added: "It's been brilliant, this campaign has been about pure perfection and we're just an awesome team."

The success on the water continued shortly after as Hunter and Purchase lived up to their billing as favourites for top spot. Roared on by the crowd, Purchase, 22, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, and Hunter beat world silver medallists Greece by half a length, with world champions Denmark third.

Within half-an-hour Britain completed their memorable treble when Ainslie, 31, from Macclesfield, thrashed the opposition in his race. Ainslie, who first won a medal in Atlanta in 1996, said his parents were at home watching on television. "It is a shame they were weren't here but huge thanks to them," he told the BBC.

The success came after a painful start to the day when a tearful Paula Radcliffe finished the women's marathon in Beijing in 23rd place. The world record-holder was forced to stop two hours and 14 minutes into the race clearly struggling with the injured thigh that had threatened to prevent her competing.