Rebecca Adlington has become the most successful British swimmer of the past 100 years after taking her second gold medal of the Beijing Olympic Games in the 800m freestyle.
The 19-year-old from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, finished the race seconds ahead of the rest of the field, breaking one of swimming's most illustrious world records in the process.
Adlington's time of 8:14.10 was 2.12s under Janet Evans' 19-year-old world record as she added gold in the 800m to the gold she won in the 400m freestyle earlier in the week.
Hugging her victorious team-mate, Cassie Patten, who finished eighth, turned to the television cameras and said: "The Queen, if you're watching - Dame Rebecca Adlington."
The double gold makes Adlington the most successful British swimmer since Henry Taylor won three gold medals in the London Games in 1908.
Adlington was six seconds clear of Italy's Alessia Filippi who took silver and Lotte Friis of Denmark the bronze.
She said: "It's so nice when you work so hard and it pays off. I wasn't expecting that. I am so pleased.
"I knew it would be tough and I was expecting a battle but when I knew I was clear I felt I could go for the time."
She added she now planned to spend time out of the pool with her boyfriend and family.
The Mayor of Mansfield, Tony Egginton, said there would be a victory parade around the Nottinghamshire town when she returned home on August 26.
