London athletes spearhead success

Eight of the British gold medallists either live or were born in London and the surrounding area.

Mark Hunter began rowing in the East End at 14 with the Poplar Blackwall and District Rowing Club. A qualified Thames waterman and lighterman, the 30-year-old won gold in the lightweight men's double sculls.

Rebecca Romero, 28, who made history after winning a silver in the rowing at Athens before switching sports to win a gold in the women's individual cycling pursuit, lives in Twickenham, having being brought up in Surrey.

Two of the three "Blondes in a Boat", who won in the yngling class, are from the South-East. Skipper Sarah Ayton, 27, grew up in Ashford, Middlesex, and is a member of Queen Mary sailing Club in Staines. Crew member Sarah Webb, 31, is from Weybridge in Surrey.

Cyclist Bradley Wiggins, 28, was born in Belgium but grew up in London. He has already bagged one gold in the men's individual pursuit, but is going for two more. Gold medal winners in the men's four rowing, Tom James, 24, Pete Reed, 26, and Andy Hodge, 29, all live close to each other around Chiswick.

Silver medallists from London include Emma Pooley in the cycling time trial, Annie Vernon from Brentford, in the women's quadruple sculls, and Tom Stallard and Alastair Heathcote in the men's rowing eight.

Matthew Wells, from Putney, and Stephen Rowbotham, from Shepherd's Bush, picked up a bronze medal each in the men's double sculls.