Team GB storms into Olympic history books

London's Christine Ohuruogu stormed to a gold medal in the women's 400 metres this afternoon.

Her dramatic win as she came from behind to snatch victory means Beijing is the best Olympics for Britain for 100 years. The 24-year-old from Stratford made it Team GB's fourth gold medal in a day, after two in the cycling and one in the sailing, and the 16th so far.

She collapsed on to the track just after passing the finishing line before draping a Union Jack around herself. Told that she had timed her surge to perfection she replied: "It wasn't deliberate. I was crossing the line and thinking, 'Oh my gosh I've won'. I'm so proud of myself. My coach always told me you have to go in to win it."

Her gold comes just a year after the end of a ban imposed for missing three drugs tests. Ohuruogu had threatened to quit athletics after being suspended but she continued to train during her ban and returned to competition last year. She wept today as she said: "I don't know where I am right now. It's something you dream about. Now it's become a reality."

Her gold completed a remarkable day for Britain. Cyclist Chris Hoy won the men's sprint for his third gold of this Olympics - the first Briton to strike gold three times in the same Games in a century. Victoria Pendleton rode to victory in the women's cycling sprint as Team GB dominated the Laoshan Velodrome and then sailor Paul Goodison came first in the men's Laser class.

There was an unexpected silver medal for Britain from Jamican-born Germaine Mason in the high jump. "This means so much to me," he said.

The haul of 33 medals so far - 16 gold medals, nine silver and eight bronze keeps Britain in third place in the medal table - and is the best since the London Games of 1908. Team GB's chef de mission Simon Clegg said: "Today is a great day for us. It's been a fantastic Olympics so far."

Hoy, 32, who also won a gold in Athens, is now one of Britain's greatest Olympians after going up against team-mate Jason Kenny, 20, in the sprint final. He rode a lap of victory and collapsed in tears, hugging his father David and kissing his girlfriend Sarra Kemp. He told her: "I just can't believe it, I just don't believe it."

He added: "I can't explain how I feel, it has been such a long journey and there has been so much building up of pressure.

"You bottle all those emotions for so long and they just opened up and erupted at the end of it. There has been so much expectation but we have done it as a team."

Pendleton, 27, from Hitchin, who became the glamorous face of cycling after posing naked and in a little black dress in a glossy magazine, said: "I didn't even allow myself to think about failing. I just kept my mind in focus on being across the line first.

"It is a dream come true really, but the medal is really heavy. I don't think I will be sleeping with it under my pillow tonight."

Bradley Wiggins failed in his attempt to win three golds at one Olympics when he came eighth in the Madison relay race.

His mother blamed excessive drug testing. Linda Wiggins, 51, said her son looked fatigued during
the race. She said: "He was tired. He has not been getting to bed before midnight because of all the drug controls and has to get up early to prepare for the races. He just looked really worn out."

Tony and Cherie Blair were among the British-dominated crowd at the velodrome to cheer on Team GB. They were with their children Kathryn and Leo. Sailor Goodison, 30, had been odds-on to take gold this morning when the Laser race began, as he only had to complete the course to take first place over all. "It just feels unbelievable. It's going to take a while to sink in but wow," he said.

Britain's Olympic heroes are to be paraded through London. The details are still being drawn up but the parade is likely to end in Trafalgar Square.

Mayor Boris Johnson announced plans for the event, saying: "Just over half way through the Beijing Games and Team GB has put in one of its best ever performances." Several high-profile music acts are to be asked to play at the event which will rival that given to England's Ashes winning side in 2005.