Team GB celebrates golden night at Olympics
Jessica Ennis and Mo Farah etched their names into British sporting immortality to complete an historic 'Super Saturday' for Team GB at the Olympics.
Ennis completed her bid for heptathlon gold inside a euphoric Olympic Stadium before Mo Farah stormed to victory in the 10,000 metres in the race of his life.
Amid the drama, Greg Rutherford unexpectedly leapt to the Olympic title in the long jump.
Their performance capped an incredible 'Super Saturday' for the British team, which claimed six gold medals to take the golden tally to 14 and cement third spot in the medals table.
Earlier Team GB won two rowing golds and yet another in the velodrome as the women in the team pursuit claimed victory with another world record.
Two-time Olympic 1500m champion Lord Coe told the Press Association it was "the greatest night of British athletics".
Ennis, who set new British and Commonwealth records on her way to securing the Olympic heptathlon gold, told the BBC she had finally banished the pain of missing out on the last Games in Beijing.
Ennis told the BBC:
While the 26-year-old's success was cheered to the rafters at the 80,000-capacity Olympic Stadium, her fans back home in Sheffield joined in the national celebrations at the Don Valley Stadium.
The Union flag, marked with Ennis's name and the title "Olympic Champion", stayed draped around her shoulders after winning her 800m race.
Former coaches, Team GB team mates, politicians and celebrities rushed to congratulate Britain's Olympic hero.
Mike Corden, chairman and senior coach of the City of Sheffield club where Ennis has competed since she was a child, said her rise over the last decade to her Olympic triumph has been an "inspiration to all of us".
Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: "Awe inspiring win for Jessica Ennis. Proud to be cheering her on with the home crowd. Atmosphere electric on #SuperSaturday".
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg also praised Ennis and called for her to be given the freedom of her home city of Sheffield.
Mr Clegg, who is MP for Sheffield Hallam, said: "As a Sheffield MP, seeing local girl Jess win gold has been the highlight of the Olympics so far. Her truly inspirational victory has done our country and Sheffield proud."
Cyclists Sir Chris Hoy and Mark Cavendish both congralutated her on Twitter. Sir Chris said: "That's how to do it!! Finish the job in style! Just superb @J--Ennis !!!!". Cavendish tweeted: "I don't normally stand up off the sofa for much other than cycling, but I did just that while watching @J--Ennis bring home heptathlon Gold!"
Mo Farah's victory in the 10,000m then left Team GB rejoicing in a night of unprecedented British success.
Farah displayed tenacity, talent and speed to beat Kenenisa Bekele, the Ethiopian 5,000m and 10,000m World and Olympic record holder, to win the Olympic 10,000m title.
His wife Tania, who is pregnant with twins, and daughter Rihanna came on to congratulate him on the track. Farah looked stunned but delighted as the crowd roared.
In cycling, the team pursuit of Dani King, Laura Trott and Joanna Rowsell led from the start to beat the US in a world record time of 3:14.051 and claim Olympic gold.
Jubilant Trott said: "It has been my dream since I was eight - and we have just gone and done it."
The trio, aged 23 or under, were presented with their medals before a spontaneous rendition of Hey Jude led by an onlooking Sir Paul McCartney.
Earlier, at Eton Dorney, an ecstatic crowd cheered the men's coxless four of Andrew Triggs Hodge, Pete Reed, Tom James and Alex Gregory to a victory, which extended Britain's dominance in the event to 16 years.
And just minutes later Kat Copeland and Sophie Hosking hugged each other, almost in disbelief, as they claimed gold in the lightweight event.