British swimmers take gold and bronze in the same race as women's record is swept away after 48 years

Britain was celebrating a second gold medal today and a second win for the team's women after Rebecca Adlington bagged the first female gold in swimming for almost half a century.

Swimmer Rebecca Adlington triumphed by a finger tip in the 400 metres freestyle, 24 hours after Nicole Cooke took the first gold in the women's cycling road race.

Adlington, 19, who narrowly beat American Katie Hoff by seven hundredths of a second, said she is glad the 'girls have done it for Britain'.

Speaking after her victory, the teenager from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, said: 'I like the fact that it is women who won the first medals. It's a great result for Britain.'

She was joined on the podium by her best friend, 21-year-old Joanne Jackson who took bronze in the same event.

'It is just amazing to have two Britons on the same podium - incredible. This is definitely the best British team we have ever had,' Adlington said.

Jackson, from Richmond, Yorkshire, added: 'I was just pleased to get into the final, but to be on the podium is just amazing. I am so happy for both of us. It is great for British swimming.'

Adlington is the first British woman to take a swimming gold since Anita Lonsborough-Porter won the 200m breaststroke event in Rome in 1960.

Adlintong also has another chance at winning a medal when she races again in the 200metres freestyle relay final on Wednesday.

Adlington takes part in the 800 metres freestyle - her strongest event - on Thursday raising the possibility of following Dame Kelly Holmes as a double gold Olympian.

She said she spoke to her family staright after her win. 'I rang home and all I could hear was screaming down the phone. They were all screaming: "well done Becks".'

Adlington's family, parents Steve, 50, Kay, 48, and elder sisters Laura, 21 and Chloe, 24, had to watch the race on television at home when they lost £1,100 buying tickets on what turned out to be a fake internet booking site.

They have now paid a second time to see their daughter compete this week.

The swimmer, who has a penchant for shoes, says her family are buying her a pair of Jimmy Choos and Christian Louboutin shoes as a reward for her win.

She added: 'I was so tired near the end but I thought you've got nothing to lose, so I just went for it.'
Adlington who is best friends with Jackson, said: 'I was so happy to be up there on the podium with my best friend. Then to have the entire team, looking down at you and singing the national anthem, not at all in tune, was just the best feeling.'

Adlington's parents were unable to be with their daughter to celebrate her victory after being ripped off by a bogus tickets website. They plan to see her compete on Thursday after paying out again.

Speaking from their home in Mansfield, adorned with Union Flags, Mrs Adlington mother said: 'When I saw her touch I think in all honesty that was the confirmation.

'I wasn't sure if she had got it until that moment and then I came from behind my cushion and hit the roof.'

Her father, a managing director of a steel company, said watching his youngest daughter take gold had been an "emotional" experience.

He said: 'It was amazing this morning. We had 18 of us all here and when she won it was fantastic.

'It's been an amazing experience. I think the most emotional bit was when they played the national anthem.

'At the end of the race we were all on our feet. Even her granddad, who was 80 a few weeks ago, was dancing round the living room. I've never seen him move like that.'

Olympics: Britain win first gold medal in women's cycling race

Nicole Cooke has won Britain's first gold medal of the Beijing Olympics, cycling to victory in the road race.

The 25-year-old Welshwoman was in a group of five that pulled away from the peloton in the 6km uphill climb to the finish through driving rain. She then won a sprint to the line before hoisting her arms in the air in delight.

'We did it, it was perfect. It's a dream come true,' said a jubilant Cooke, who finished in 3 hours, 32 minutes and 24 seconds .


'I want to thank all the people who have been there from the start. I have worked so hard, I am so happy.'

Cooke came fifth in Athens when a lack of supporting team-mates cost her a medal.

But today with Emma Pooley and Sharon Laws she had probably the best British women's team ever assembled.

Simon Clegg, Team GB's chef de mission, said: 'Nicole Cooke has just secured Team GB's first medal - and what a medal. It's not only gold but it's Team GB's 200th gold medal from the modern Olympic Games.

'Emma and Sharon did an awesome job in supporting Nicole in her race for gold.'

Sweden's Emma Johansson won the silver and Tatiana Guderzo of Italy won the bronze.




Nicole Cooke Factfile:

1983 - Born April 13, Swansea, Wales.

2000 - Wins gold medals in world championship junior road races in France and

Spain.

2001 - Continues that success with further wins in junior race and time trial

in Portugal. Awarded the Bidlake Memorial Prize, given for outstanding performance or

contribution to the betterment of cycling.

2002 - Wins gold medal in women's road race at the Commonwealth Games in

Manchester.

2003 - Wins the women's road race world cup, the youngest to do so and the

first Briton. Named BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year.

2004 - Becomes the youngest winner of the Giro d'Italia Femminile. August - Finishes fifth in road race in the Athens Olympics.

2006 - Wins the bronze medal in the road race at the Commonwealth Games in

Melbourne. September 3 - Wins road race world cup for the second time.

2008 - August 10 - Wins gold medal in road race at the Beijing Olympics,

Britain's first medal of the games.