Ohuruogu enjoys fame after infamy

Yet while only fourth as she entered the straight, the famed strength of Ohuruogu's race was still to come and suddenly it dawned she was going to outlast the trio ahead who were beginning to tire, including Richards, who began to tie up alarmingly. With 20 metres left, it was obvious that, just as in last year's world championship final when her remarkable staying power and will to win drove her to an equally astonishing triumph over her British team-mate, Nicola Sanders, in Osaka, she was not gong to be denied.

She burst through to win, with Richards fading so badly that she could only land the bronze in 49.93sec, behind the stronger finishing Jamaican Shericka Williams.

The shock of the triumph saw Ohuruogu slump to her knees more in astonishment than weariness.

The Stratford kid who was brought up round the corner from the London Olympics site was given an extremely rough ride from her critics after the triumph on her world championship comeback last year from those who felt her doping offence meant she should not be allowed to be "the face of 2012".

On a fantastic night for British athletics, Germaine Mason sprung a major surprise by capturing Team GB's first athletics medal of the Beijing Olympics with a silver in the high jump.

The 25-year-old, who switched allegiance from Jamaica to Britain in 2006, cleared 2.34m to finish runner-up behind Russia's Andrey Silnov.

Mason was a rank outsider going into the final, having never previously competed in the Olympics or shown any sign of ability to perform at top international level.

He said: "I was so excited that I have come here and delivered. I was very confident and focused on the task and was very relaxed and having fun.

"This is the Olympics, there is nothing better than being here. I want to thank God, my mum and my brothers. I would like to thank UK Athletics for giving me the opportunity."

Mason warmed up for the Games with 2.31m at Crystal Palace at the end of July to show a glimpse of his potential.

The Jamaican-born jumper had one failure at 2.29m in the final but then opted to pass on that height, moving on to clear 2.32m and 2.34m with ease.

Mason clattered the bar on all three efforts at 2.36m - a height which he is yet to clear - but his previous clearance was enough to secure the medal.

In 2003, Mason claimed bronze at the world indoor championships for Jamaica but was persuaded to switch allegiance by his mother, although he has previously claimed he always wanted to represent Britain.

Mason, who holds a UK passport, is eligible to represent Britain because his father, David, was born in London and his change in nationality was ratified by athletics' governing body, the IAAF, in 2006.

Before that, he served a two-year exclusion period where he could represent neither country as stipulated by IAAF rules. Although he lives in London, Mason trains in Texas with coach Sue Humphrey.

"I am a bit speechless but I am very happy and overwhelmed. Super-duper!" added Mason.

"I did the best I could, equalled my PB and got a silver."

There was disappointment for Sarah Claxton as she finished last in the final of the 110m hurdles won by American Dawn Harper.