Simmonds storms to gold in final thriller

While rising equestrian star Natasha Baker started the gold rush in Greenwich several hours earlier, Simmonds raised a British team display to another level.

She not only triumphed in her S6 400 metres freestyle shoot-out against Victoria Arlen - she demolished the US swimmer's world record by more than five seconds, clocking a time of five minutes 19.17 seconds.

"I am exhausted - I cannot believe I did it," she said. "I knew I had to go there and give it everything, but 5.19? My coach said it was going to be won in a 5.19, but I didn't believe him."

Simmonds could claim further success as she also compeets in the 50m freestyle, the 100m freestyle and the 200m individual medley.

Britain won two more golds at the velodrome, with husband and wife Barney and Sarah Storey playing starring roles.

After Barney Storey piloted Neil Fachie to win the men's blind and visually impaired tandem one-kilometre time-trial, Storey won her least favoured event, the women's C4/5 500m time-trial.