Grainger and Watkins strike gold

Katherine Grainger's quest for Olympic glory is over after she won a sensational gold medal with Anna Watkins in the women's double scull.

The British crew destroyed the field at Eton Dorney to add an Olympic crown to the two world titles they have won during two unbeaten years.

Grainger and Watkins led from the start and were roared on to a commanding victory, beating Australia by a length with Poland taking a distant bronze.

Grainger fell into an embrace with Watkins and acknowledged the support of the 30,000 crowd after finally tasting victory at an Olympics.

After coming together in 2010, Grainger and Watkins have now won 23 consecutive races but none of them were as emotional as this as Grainger finally received the gold medal she craved.

Grainger said: "I feel this medal, of all of them, is the people's medal. I feel so many people have been behind me and supported me and wanted this for me as much as I have.

"It's off the back of everyone I've ever worked with, everyone I've ever rowed with, everyone who's helped me going back to my family who were there from the beginning, to my friends at school, university.

"Every single person's been a part of this and it makes the medal seem so much more special."

Britain's successful regatta continued with a pair of bronze medals either side of the double scull victory.

George Nash and William Satch won bronze in the men's pair before Alan Campbell added bronze in the single sculls.