Golden Girls #London2012

Never in the history of Olympic rowing had a female GB crew won gold....

....until today.

Heather Stanning and Helen Glover were picked out from the Olympic Giants scheme to be potential Olympians for London 2012. Four years ago they had not been anywhere near a boat. Two years ago they were considered to be the reserves for the GB team, but someone decided to put them out in a pair to see how they fared.

They took World Silver and did so again in 2011.

Andy Murray's pic from the men's locker room at Wimbledon

But this morning they took off from the gun and had clear water by the 500m mark over the world champions from New Zealand. By 1500m they had opened up a lead of almost four lengths. Yes the gap started to close over the last 500m but at Olympic venues all over London a cheer went up. From fans and competitors the gold duck has been broken.

The first time British women took gold in the Olympic rowing regatta and Katherine Grainger, three times silver medalist, has yet to come in the double sculls.