Proud Jonnie Peacock hails home support after sprint triumph over Oscar Pistorius and co

The 19-year-old left his rivals, including Oscar Pistorius, trailing in his wake last night as he stormed to gold in a Paralympic record 10.90 seconds.

British fans on a high after David Weir’s third gold of the Games in the men’s T54 800m chanted Peacock’s name before his race and the Cambridge sprinter had to call for quiet before the finalists went into their blocks.

He said: “That was absolutely mad. I knew Dave Weir would win before I went out and that the crowd would be on such a high but I didn’t expect it would be as mad as it was.

“I’m so proud to be British and I do think the crowd has made these Paralympics. It will stay with me forever.”

Pistorius was quick to congratulate Peacock after the race. He said: “All I remember is crossing the line thinking ‘I’ve won’ and then thinking ‘have I won?’ Then it came up on the board. I was so pleased and I just gave him (Pistorius) a big hug. He said: ‘I told you you’d do it’.”

Peacock managed to keep calm before the race despite the noisy backing and the faulty start by Brazilian Alan Fonteles Oliveira.

“I asked my coach — ‘Where are the nerves?’ I think it was because I felt so prepared. Everything I’d done all year was leading up to last night.”