Team GB wins first Olympic gold medal

Great Britain secured their first gold medal of the Athens Olympics today thanks to a superb display of sailing from Shirley Robertson's Yngling crew.

Great Britain secured their first gold medal of the Athens Olympics today thanks to a superb display of sailing from Shirley Robertson's Yngling crew.

Robertson, a gold medallist in Sydney four years ago, Sarah Webb and Sarah Ayton wrapped up the gold with a race to spare after a sensational performance on the waters of the Saronic Gulf.

The trio showed nerves of steel and technique to match to post third and eighth place finishes in races nine and 10 respectively - results which means that second-placed Denmark can not overtake them in Saturday's final race.

The Danes finished above the British boat in fifth place but are nine points behind Robertson and her crew.

The news of golden success will be a huge boost to Team GB after failing to claim a gold in the first five days of the Olympics.

However, the little and large combination of 5ft 4in Gail Emms and the 6ft 2in Nathan Robertson failed to add a second gold when they lost the mixed badminton final to a Chinese pair, collecting Britain's third silver medal of the games.