Denise Lewis helped make it a double golden day for Britain's Olympics team in Sydney yesterday

Lewis, 28, shrugged off a nagging calf injury to claim our fifth gold medal of the championships in the heptathlon.

Earlier yesterday, Britain won gold for the first time in 88 years in the men's eights rowing event.

Lewis left Russia's Yelena Prokhorova trailing 53 points behind to be crowned Olympic champion, despite having her left leg strapped.

Her victory emulated the Olympic triumph of Mary Peters, who won the pentathlon 28 years ago.

West Bromwich-born Denise said her mother was "in tears" after she completed the 800 metres, the last of the seven events.

"I have just seen mum and she's concerned whether I'm in one piece. I think she's forgotten that I won.

"She's in tears and she's upset, but I hope she's proud," a tearful Lewis told the BBC.

Dame Mary Peters, who won a pentathlon gold at the Munich games, told Denise after her triumph: "I'm absolutely thrilled and still shaking all over with emotion. Denise, we are all proud of you.

"I was on the far side with all the Union Jacks. They raised my performance 28 years ago and I know you were born a week after I won my gold medal.

"I'm really, really happy that I was here to share the joy with you."

During a successful weekend of three gold medals for Britain, millions of television viewers have tuned in to cheer the team on.

Steve Redgrave's fifth consecutive gold - in the coxless fours on Saturday - was watched by nearly seven million people.

Britain has now won a total of 15 medals, matching the return from the Atlanta games four years ago with seven days of competition remaining.

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