Host nation Great Britain's wait for a first Olympic gold at London 2012 ended Wednesday with victory in the women's pairs rowing event at Eton Dorney.
Helen Glover and Heather Stanning dominated the race from the start, winning in 7 minutes, 27.13 seconds to also secure the first-ever gold for a British women's boat at an Olympic Games, DPA reported.
Australia's Kate Hornsey and Sarah Tait pipped reigning world champion pair Juliette Haigh and Rebecca Scown of New Zealand to the sliver medal.
Glover only took up rowing in 2008 after taking part in a scheme set up by UK Sport to identify British sporting talent with a view to the London Olympics while Stanning actually gave up rowing in 2008 to concentrate on a career in the army.
Stanning changed her mind after watching the Beijing Olympics. The 27-year-old felt she had not achieved all she could in the sport, a decision that was to set her on the road to winning gold four years later at her home Games.