Kelly Holmes put the pride back into British athletics last night when she became the first British woman to win Olympic gold in the 800 metres for 40 years.

The 34-year-old former Army sergeant banished the disappointment of Paula Radcliffe's marathon misery with a fantastic performance, recording her best time for nine years and fending off the challenge of training partner and world champion Maria Mutola.

It was reward for the courage and perseverance of the woman who has been struck by a series of injuries over the past decade.

"I've dreamed of this since the age of 12," Holmes said. "Every time I've got close but not close enough and something went wrong. But training went well the last few weeks. It turned around and I decided at the last minute to give it a go in the 800.

"You dream of this moment all the time and I was waiting for something to go wrong and I'm pretty shocked. I can't believe it."

Holmes' time of one minute 56.38 seconds was her best since she set the British record back in 1995 and she is the country's first Olympic 800m gold medallist since Ann Packer in Tokyo in 1964.

Holmes will now run in the 1500 metres, which begin tonight.