London 2012: 'A gold rush for eternity' – how the world saw Super Saturday | Sport | The Guardian Olympics 2012: athletics London 2012: 'A gold rush for eternity' – how the world saw Super Saturday The international press has hailed Great Britain's gold medallists, and in particular Mo Farah, who 'pushed a lifetime's worth of chips into the middle of the table' during his last lap Great Britain's Mo Farah celebrates his 10,000-metre gold with his daughter Rihanna. Photograph: Jason O'Brien/Action Images Sunday 5 August 2012 06.23 EDT First published on Sunday 5 August 2012 06.23 EDT Share on Messenger Close The British papers and websites naturally led the way in celebrating Team GB's haul of six gold medals on Super Saturday but the international press, too, praised Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford and co.

In Spain, El Mundo ran a piece with the headline: "How Mo Farah changed history", saying: "For Mo Farah, the new king of long-distance running, it was difficult to recognise his daughter Rihanna, who was looking for him, wrapped in the Union Jack and somewhat lost amid the roar that shook the Olympic Stadium after the outcome of the 10,000 meters race and which completed a perfect day for British athletics. The triumphs of Jessica Ennis in the heptathlon, and Greg Rutherford in the long jump were followed by the coronation of the Somalia-born athlete, which brought to an end not only the Ethiopian era, which begun in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and ended with the fall of Kenenisa Bekele, the last emperor." Over in the United States, Tim Layden, of Sports Illustrated, wrote about how Farah "pushed a lifetime's worth of chips into the middle of the table" on the last lap of his triumphant 10,000 metre-run.

"The noise could grow no more, yet somehow it did, rolling down in a desperate wave from the highest seats in London's Olympic Stadium and crashing across the pebbled orange track on the floor," he said. "There were 450 meters to run in the final of Saturday night's Olympic 10,000 meters and Mo Farah, 29, had surged to the lead, pushing a lifetime's worth of chips into the middle of the table and sprinting though the night air with nothing but a dream in front of him to justify the pain, the miles and the loneliness behind. One of the greatest distance runners in history gave chase and so, too, did a tall, blonde American runner who has shared Farah's work for the last 18 months. Le Monde, in France, wrote about a "magical Saturday" for Britain. "Britain experienced a magical Saturday athletics by winning three gold medals by Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah and, unexpectedly, Greg Rutherford. Farah won the 10,000m after a frenzied sprint, beating the American Galen Rupp and the Ethiopian Tariku Bekele.

World Champion of 5000m, Farah, of Somali origin, brought a third title in athletics in Britain, after the success of a few tens of minutes before the heptathlete Jessica Ennis and long jumper Greg Rutherford. In La Gazzetta dello Sport, in Italy, Valerio Piccioni wrote: "Mohamed "Mo" Farah was born in Mogadishu, grew up in Djibouti and, when he was eight, moved here to the Queen's house, so to speak. And now he dominates them all:, with the Eritreans, Ethiopians and Kenyans feel ing it the most. Kenenisa Bekele abdicated after having driven the pace in an attempt to silence the hosts. "But Mo had too much left in his tank. The American Galen Rupp was the last one to give up, finishing second. Final inglesissimo with the music of the Beatles. People did not want to leave the stadium. "All you need is love" and there was Paul McCartney's daughter and the flag. Jessica Ennis on the podium, showing her medal.

Then the anthem, pride and a night during which it would have been difficult get to any sleep." Over in South America, Brazil's Veja magazine ran a headline saying: "In the cauldron of Stratford, the British have a historic night" with the subhead: "Praised by the IOC, the public fill the Olympic Stadium with noise and help the home team to win three golds and crown a new queen, Jessica Ennis". In Germany, Eurosport wrote: "This was a gold rush for eternity. At 9.48pm it was all clear – the biggest night of the Games. Mo Farah had just arrived as the first 10,000-meter runner over the finish line, watched by Greg Rutherford, the new Olympic champion in the long jump, and the heptathlete Jessica Ennis, who started the golden gala. "When the anthem was played, the tears came for Ennis. She had reached her target, she had completed her predestined role as queen of the athletics and the face of the Games. Wherever she appeared, she unleashed a hurricane.

After the grand finale, the 26-year-old sat with a gold in her hands and the heptathlon crown." In Britain, the Olympic athletes dominated the front and the back pages.

"Jess Ennis was crowned the greatest female athlete on the planet last night," wrote the Sunday Mirror while the Sunday Telegraph added: Britain won six gold medals in sensational style yesterday – three in the space of an hour with victory following victory in the heptathlon, the long jump and the 10,000 metres." The Observer wrote: "The 40ft banner draped across the front of John Lewis in her home city of Sheffield is the local confirmation of Jessica Ennis's national and international status – a status cemented last week when she appeared, eyes fixed on the camera and in mid-javelin throw, on the cover of Time magazine's Olympics special." Team GB look to repeat yesterday's golden Super Saturday | The Independent Team GB look to repeat yesterday's golden Super Saturday Sunday 5 August 2012 08:51 BST Click to follow The Independent Online Jessica Ennis celebrates winning gold in the Women's Heptathlon at the Olympic Stadium Getty Images Team GB will bid for further gold glory today on the back of the country's most successful day in modern Olympics history.

Last night saw a golden hat-trick for Britain in the Olympic Stadium when Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford each won their events within 45 minutes of one another. "Super Saturday" had earlier seen three other gold medals awarded to Team GB athletes - two in rowing and yet another in the velodrome, propelling Britain to third place in the medals chart. The frenzied crowd in the 80,000-capacity stadium went wild as Ennis, the poster girl of the London Games, won the 800m with a sprint finish, crowning two days of tough competition in the heptathlon. In front of spectators including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Olympic silver medalist Zara Phillips and Prime Minister David Cameron, Ennis wept as she stood on the podium to receive her gold medal. She said: "I can't believe I've had the opportunity to come to my first Games in London and won an Olympic Gold medal. It's unbelievable." Former sports minister and ex-Sheffield MP Richard Caborn, who was in Sheffield's Don Valley Stadium with his family, said: "She's our golden girl.

She's stuck with Sheffield and Sheffield's stuck with her." Her first coach, Mick Thompson, said: "You can't get better than this. Where does she go next?" Rutherford was the next athlete to claim victory for Team GB, with a surprise gold medal in the long jump. He described his victory as the "most amazing feeling in the world". He was followed by Farah who danced for joy around the track after winning the 10,000m, hailing it as "the best moment of my life". London Games chairman Lord Coe said it was the "the greatest night of British athletics". It topped off a day which also saw success away from the stadium - a sensational world record-breaking performance by women cyclists in the frenzied atmosphere of the velodrome led to another gold in the team pursuit. The team of Dani King, Laura Trott and Joanna Rowsell led from the start to beat the US in a world record time of 3:14.051. The trio were presented with their medals before a spontaneous rendition of Hey Jude led by an onlooking Sir Paul McCartney.

And earlier, at Eton Dorney, an ecstatic crowd cheered the men's coxless four of Andrew Triggs Hodge, Pete Reed, Tom James and Alex Gregory to a victory, which extended Britain's dominance in the event to 16 years. This was followed just minutes later by Kat Copeland and Sophie Hosking claiming gold in the lightweight event. It was the best day for gold medals since 1908 with Team GB now boasting 14 gold, seven silver and eight bronze and in third place after China and the US. The team will be hoping to retain its position in the chart as medal hopefuls compete in their events today. Andy Murray is certain to win silver or gold when he takes part in two tennis finals: against old rival Roger Federer in the singles and then with Laura Robson in the mixed doubles. All eyes will be on Louis Smith as he looks to win Great Britain's first ever gymnastics Olympic gold when he competes in the pommel horse final and back in the velodrome, Ed Clancy will battle it out in the men's omnium.

And in sailing Ben Ainslie will become the greatest Olympic sailor of all time if he manages to topple Denmark's Jonas Hogh-Christensen in his final race at Weymouth, while Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson are guaranteed at least bronze in the Star class. Those with tickets inside the stadium will no doubt be keenly anticipating the chance to see Jamaica's Usain Bolt's bid to defend his 100m title tonight. Jessica Ennis spoke today of the pressure she had felt as the poster girl of the Olympics. She told BBC Breakfast: "It has been hard, I am not going to lie, it has been a lot of pressure and there were times through those two days I was worried something would go wrong, if it was three no-jumps or three no-throws, and I would have been devastated. It's a massive relief to have actually done it. "I have always said that I felt lucky coming into a home Games in such a great position and hopefully being a big part of the Games," the Olympic champion added. "Obviously having missed the last Olympics in Beijing, I was just trying to make the most of it and enjoy it.

"But yeah, it was so much pressure, everybody expected me to win and I just knew how hard it was going to be, so I'm just so relieved that I've got the medal now." Greg Rutherford hailed the support and noise generated by the 80,000-strong crowd at the stadium last night, saying "it was the lift I needed to win". The 25-year-old revealed he did not sleep a wink last night after his jump of 8.31 metres saw him take long jump gold just minutes after Jessica Ennis crossed the line for gold in the heptathlon. But the Milton Keynes athlete has yet to be given his medal, with the ceremony taking place during tonight's athletics events, he told BBC Breakfast. "The crowd were absolutely fantastic, they were getting behind every single Brit that went out there," he said, admitting the sheer volume of noise affected his first round jump before he composed himself for round two. "It was absolutely amazing. I am fortunate enough to compete on the circuit and compete in front of some big crowds. To go out there and you have 80,000 people behind you, it was the lift I needed to win," he added.

He said he had tried to sleep after his win but his body would not switch off. "Everything was going through my head, I still don't think I can quite take in what actually happened - this is what I have wanted my entire life and I have worked incredibly hard for it and my team around me have worked incredibly hard," he said. "I have given everything I possibly could to do this and all of a sudden it has happened and you just don't know how to react really. "I don't have the medal yet so I don't really have that to look at and cherish. I'm sure once I have it might sink in a little bit more and hopefully I might be able to sleep because I haven't actually slept at all. "I have been up the entire night staring at the ceiling desperately trying to sleep and my body just didn't want to switch off." He also said he owed a debt to former US sprinter and four-time long jump Olympic gold medallist Carl Lewis, after adopting his jumping style in a bid to overcome a persistent hamstring injury caused by his own technique. "I have basically managed the entire year without an injury ... and here I am," he said.

Gold medal-winning cyclist Joanna Rowsell told how she and her team pursuit colleagues Dani King and Laura Trott took inspiration from the British cyclists who won medals earlier in the Games, including Bradley Wiggins' gold in the men's time trial. "It gives a great boost to the team when somebody else wins gold," she told BBC Breakfast. "That was such a great inspiration to the rest of the team watching television, screaming at the television shouting and cheering them on.

"It was incredible to watch and I have to say it gave us a definite boost." PA Mo Farah, Chris Froome, Andy Murray and Jessica Ennis-Hill lead Team GB's gold medal hopes at the Rio Olympics | Daily Mail Online Mo Farah, Chris Froome, Andy Murray and Jessica Ennis-Hill lead Team GB's gold medal hopes at the Rio Olympics Team GB won 65 medals at the London Olympic Games in 2012 Ahead of Rio, UK Sport have set a medal target of at least 48 for Team GB Summer Olympic sports have received £274.5m in Lottery funding Mo Farah, Andy Murray and Jessica Ennis-Hill lead GB's medal charge comments Team GB won 65 medals at the London 2012 Olympics, comprised of 29 golds, 17 silvers and 19 bronzes. Most of the nation’s Olympians are funded with Lottery money which is allocated to the individual sports via UK Sport, who have set a medal target of at least 48 medals for Team GB, with an expected range of 47 to 79.

The summer Olympic sports received £274.5m in Lottery funding for the current four-year cycle. Here Sportsmail identifies Team GB’s brightest hopes for Rio: Greg Rutherford and Mo Farah contributed to the 65 medals won at the London Games This time around, UK Sport have set GB a target of 48 medals in Brazil Andy Murray will be looking to retain the gold he won at in London RELATED ARTICLES Nicola Adams The 33-year-old flyweight boxer is aiming for the final on Saturday, August 20. She made history in London as the first woman to win an Olympic boxing gold medal. Flyweight boxer Nicola Adams won gold at the London Games Adams made history in London as the first woman to win an Olympic boxing gold Charlotte Dujardin The dressage rider, 31, is aiming for the medals on August 12 & 15. She won golds in London in the team event and in the individual dressage aboard Valegro and hopes to do the same again. Charlotte Dujardin is a serious medal hope in the dressage The British heptathlon heroine on Super Saturday in London is favourite for back-to-back Games titles.

The 30-year-old is aiming for gold over two days between August 12-13. Jessica Ennis-Hill was a hero in London and wants to do it again in Brazil Mo Farah Farah thrilled London with a golden double four years ago and followed that with a world championships double. He competes in the 10k and 5k on August 13 and 20. Mo Farah was a Super Saturday winner in 2012 and is a major contender in the 10k and 5k Chris Froome The 31-year-old has an eye on two prizes, in the road race and time trial, on August 6 & 10. The three-time winner of the Tour de France can burnish his status as one of cycling’s all-time greats with medals here. Chris Froome is looking to add Olympic gold to his Tour de France title Helen Glover and Heather Stanning Glover, 30, and Stanning, 31, row for repeat gold in the women’s pair on August 12. Their sport has delivered decent medal hauls for GB and this pair are the likeliest for gold again.

Helen Glover and Heather Stanning are Team GB's dynamic rowing duo Jason Kenny He may have three medal shots in cycling’s team sprint, individual sprint and keirin on August 11, 14 and 16. He already has three Olympic golds. GB also have hopes on the cycling track, led by Jason Kenny with three shots The Wimbledon champion is aiming to reach the men’s tennis final on August 14. The Scot’s victory in London was a springboard for his Grand Slam victories. Andy Murray won Wimbledon in 2016 and is defending his 2012 Olympic title Adam Peaty Peaty is arguably GB’s best gold swimming hope, in the 100m breaststroke on August 7. He is already a world and European champion. Great Britain's major swimming hope in Rio is Adam Peaty Greg Rutherford The 29-year-old wants to reprise 2012’s long jump golden glow on August 13. He was part of Super Saturday in London and is tipped for the top in Rio. Greg Rutherford was a Super Saturday winner at the 2012 Games. Can he do it again?

The 24-year-old attempts another cycling double gold, in the team pursuit and omnium She's in action on August 13 & 16. Laura Trott will be looking for double gold in the team pursuit and omnium Giles Scott At 29 he is Ben Ainslie’s heir in the Finn sailing class, which has its medal race on August 16. Scott is hot favourite for gold. Ben Ainslie has been an Olympic regular, but Giles Scott is his heir RIO OLYMPIC HISTORY MAKERS Triplets make history Estonian sisters Leila, Liina and Lily Luik will become the first triplets to compete at a Games. The 30-year-old trio — all blonde and blue-eyed — were keen dancers as youngsters but only took up distance running six years ago. Georgia's family affair A mother and son from Georgia will be the first parent-and-child combination to appear together at the same Games. Nino Salukvadze, 47, is a shooter at an eighth summer Olympics, a record-equalling tally.

Her son, Tsotne Machavariani, is 18 and he qualified for Rio by shooting a PB in the 10m air pistol at the European Championships in February. Still doing it at 42 Jo Pavey is at her fifth Games at the age of 42 and is by far the oldest member of Britain’s track-and-field team. She is a year older than Uzbek gymnast Oksana Chusovitina, who is at her seventh Games and will be the oldest female Olympic gymnast in history. The oldest Olympians The oldest surviving Olympian is believed to be Simone Schaller, an American born in 1912 and who competed in the 1932 and 1936 Games as a hurdler. The oldest surviving male Olympian is believed to be American John Lysak, 101, a canoeist in 1936. And here's a dozen others who could also come home with medals Lizzie Armitstead: Won silver in cycling’s road race in London and can do even better on her day. Alistair Brownlee: Wants to retain the triathlon gold he won in London as brother Jonathan also goes for medal.

Tom Daley: Took bronze in London in the individual 10m and could make the podium here again or in synchro. David Florence: Canoe star who has won two silvers but is capable of upgrading. Anthony Fowler: Boxer with a shot at glory in the 75kg men’s middleweight division. Men’s Four: Gregory, Louloudis, Nash and Sbihi aim to continue fine GB tradition in the rowing. James Guy: Freestyle swimmer has tough competition in the 200m and 400m but can make impact. Hannah Mills & Saskia Clark: Sailors with hopes of golden glory in the 470 class. Jamie Murray: Kid brother Andy wants singles gold but Jamie aims for glory in the doubles. Justin Rose: A major winner at the 2013 US Open. Can make his mark on the Games. Bradley Wiggins: The Modfather is back for one last Olympic heist in the team pursuit. Max Whitlock: Pommel horse triumph is within his grasp, even against GB team-mate Louis Smith.

James Guy is a potential medal hope in the 200m and 400m freestyle in Rio No one has supported British Athletes more than National Lottery players. If you play, you're part of the team #IAmTeamGB London 2012 Olympics: Oliver Holt on how Super Saturday unfolded with Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford - Mirror Online Something that can only be described as life-force. Something magical. It was the kind of evening that made people stand and stare with mouths agape, scarcely believing what they were seeing. Banner day: Jessica Ennis fans show their support - and she didn't disappoint (Photo: Getty) There are arguments to say there have been greater single-event occasions for British sport. World Cup wins, European Cup triumphs, Ashes glories, Ryder Cup victories, British Lions triumphs and, way back when, Wimbledon victories. But because of the breadth and magnitude of its feats, because these are the London Games, because the country is agog, Saturday night is hard to beat. It would be wrong even to say that one magical moment followed another in the Olympic Stadium. That would do a grave disservice to the greatest night in British sporting history .

On Saturday night, one after another would have counted as positively dull. No, on Saturday night, the magic fell upon the Olympic Stadium in one great rolling wave. Gold run: Jessica Ennis of Great Britain crosses the line during the women's heptathlon 800m (Photo: Ian Walton / Getty) On one side of the stadium, Jessica Ennis was introduced to the crowd before the start of the 800m, the last event in her quest to win heptathlon gold . On the other side, a great roar went up as the long jumper Greg Rutherford soared into the lead with a leap of 8.31m. Ennis had a commanding advantage in the heptathlon even before the 800m started. She could have coasted through it in the pack and still won gold. But Ennis is not built like that. Overtaken with 300 yards to go, she moved back on to the shoulders of the leaders at the start of the back straight, then moved out to pass them. She looked majestic as she sprinted up the home straight, small and slight beside the giants who were her rivals, but utterly indomitable.

She completed her victory like a champion, out in front, not in the pack. Then she fell to the track as the realisation hit her that she had won gold. History will record it as one of the iconic moments of the London Games, our equivalent of Australia's Cathy Freeman winning gold in the 400m in Sydney in 2000. Anointed the Face of the Games, Ennis had lived up to all the expectations. She had not wilted in the face of the challenge. She had risen to it magnificently. But even as she lay on her back on the track, photographers and camera crews clustering round her to capture her exhausted elation, there was another roar. Spectators stood and pointed beyond the prone form of Ennis to the far side of the stadium and the tumult that had gripped it. Soaring success: Greg Rutherford leaps to Olympic gold (Photo: Stu Forster) There, by the side of the long jump pit, an American competitor Will Claye, was kneeling on the ground, back straight, arms outstretched in prayer.

He was waiting for the scoreboard to show the distance he had jumped, waiting to see if he had overtaken Rutherford at the top of the leaderboard. The crowd waited nervously for his reaction, too. They were hoping it would be subdued. It was. He was still 19cms short in third place. Next Rutherford was on the runway, ready for his penultimate leap. By now, Ennis swathed in a Union flag and on a lap of honour with the rest of the heptathletes, had drawn level with him. She watched him as he flew towards the pit, took off on the board and hurled himself into the air. He did not extend his lead. No sooner had Ennis completed her lap of honour than Mo Farah appeared on the track, ready for the men's 10,000m. The expectation weighed as heavily on him as it had on Ennis. Everyone loves Mo . Everyone was desperate for him to win. Farah and his rivals started off at a blistering pace. They had covered two laps when Rutherford's last challenger fell short with his final jump. Rutherford could not be caught.

It was the first time Britain had won Olympic gold in the event since Lynn Davies did it in 1964 in Tokyo. Two minutes earlier, the stadium announcer had told the crowd Britain had just won its first track and field medal at a London Games since 1908. Now there were two of them. As Rutherford stood in disbelief and then made his own slow, glorious progress round the stadium, taking the plaudits of the crowd, Farah ran on and on. You go, Mo: Fantastic Farah crosses the line to win gold in the men's 10,000m final (Photo: Harry How / Getty) The pace was fearsome and unrelenting and Farah allowed others to take it out, never losing touch, always looking comfortable. He kicked for home at the bell and many feared he had made his move too early. They were wrong. A deafening roar filled the stadium, urging Farah towards the finishing line, willing him bring an enchanted night to a glorious conclusion. Twice on that final lap, it appeared his pursuers were hunting him down. Each time, when it seemed it was impossible he could go any quicker, Farah found an extra burst of pace.

As he crossed the line, he seemed almost delirious with joy. He beat his head with his hands and then fell to the track. It felt like a falling down kind of night. It was dizzying. A night, a day, like British sport has never seen before. A first long jump gold for 48 years, a first 10,000m gold ever and a gold for the darling of the Games. That is before we mention the fact that the British women's team pursuit cyclists obliterated their US rivals to win gold at the Velodrome a few hours earlier. That is before we mention our all-conquering rowers won two more golds at Eton Dorney a few hours before that. They won a silver, too, in the lightweight men's double sculls, through Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter. And in case you think that is not worth mentioning in the annals of such a day, the all-consuming courage they showed in pursuit of the prize, the way they wrung every inch of effort from their bodies, made them winners, too.

All mine:Jessica Ennis of Great Britain kisses her gold medal after winning the Women's Heptathlon (Photo: Jamie Squire / Getty) It was close to 11pm when the greatest day ended with Ennis's medal presentation. She jumped up and down in delight on the podium and then a man stepped forward to place the medal round her neck. Lord Coe smiled. It was his vision, his conviction, that won the Games for London but even he could barely have imagined a night of nights like this. Like us on Facebook Ennis, Farah and Rutherford take gold for Britain on 'Super Saturday' - London 2012 Day Two Report| News | iaaf.org Home of World Athletics Jessica Ennis on her way to winning the heptathlon at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Getty Images) © Copyright 04 AUG 2012 Report London, UK Ennis, Farah and Rutherford take gold for Britain on 'Super Saturday' - London 2012 Day Two Report Email The Sydney Olympics in 2000 is remembered for 'Magic Monday' – the day in which Cathy Freeman won 400m gold for the host nation Australia.

In a similar vein, 'Super Saturday' of the London 2012 Games will long live in the memory as the day in which Britain won three gold medals – courtesy of Jessica Ennis, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farah. Ennis – also known as 'the face of the Games' – had held the overnight lead in the Heptathlon with her best ever day-one score. She began the second day with a 6.48m leap in the Long Jump to finish just six centimetres behind Tatyana Chernova, keeping her big rival at bay. But defending champion Nataliya Dobrynska was not so fortunate and she had two fouls followed by an aborted attempt, ending her Olympic campaign. The star of the javelin was Sofia Ifadidou of Greece, who threw 56.96m – the best ever mark within a heptathlon. She was pushed by Antoinette Nana Djimou Ida of France, who threw 55.87m in a group that saw seven women break 51 metres – incredible depth for a heptathlon.

On her final attempt, Ennis produced a PB of 47.49m to finish ahead of Chernova (46.29m), giving her an unassailable lead going into the final event. Ennis duly delivered in the 800m, sprinting away from her rivals to fittingly cross the line in pole position with a time of 2:08.65. It brought her points tally to 6955, breaking her own UK record she set earlier in the year and going to fifth on the world all-time list. Germany's Lilli Schwarzkopf was initially disqualified from the 800m having finished in the silver medal position, but she was later reinstated. Chernova, meanwhile, had to settle for the bronze medal with 6628. With 13 women over 6300 points, it was the greatest depth Heptathlon competition of all time. Just minutes after Ennis crossed the finish line, the men's Long Jump was reaching its climax. The marks were far from record-breaking, but the competition was extremely competitive.

Rutherford took an early lead with 8.21m in round two, but that lead came under attack in the fourth round as Will Claye jumped 8.12m, Michel Torneus 8.11m and Sebastian Bayer 8.10m. But Rutherford hit back with a leap of 8.31m to extend his lead. The only athlete who could respond was Australia's Mitchell Watt, jumping 8.13m in the fifth round and 8.16m in the sixth. It was not enough to catch the leader, though, and Rutherford was crowned the champion. The men's 10,000m got underway as the Long Jump was coming to a close. In his usual style, Zersenay Tadese did the early pace-making duties, but it was not to last. With a few kilometres to go, world leader Wilson Kiprop stepped off the track, but the main protagonists were all still in contention. Bidan Karoki led for a few laps, followed by Kenyan team-mate Moses Masai.

The whole time, Farah was keeping close contact, but so too was training partner Galen Rupp, defending champion Kenenisa Bekele and his brother Tariku Bekele. With just 1000m of running left, Farah hit the front and wound up the pace – all too aware of the costly tactical mistakes that cost him the gold at last year's World Championships. He bided his time before kicking hard on the last lap, but his pursuers were still not dropping back. Farah moved into top gear into the home straight, where he was joined by Rupp who chased him all the way home. Farah crossed the line in 27:30.42 with Rupp less than half a second behind. For the third time this year, Tariku Bekele beat his brother to take the bronze ahead of Kenenisa Bekele, 27:31.43 to 27:42.44. Fraser-Pryce defends title in quality 100m When Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce took 100m gold in Beijing four years ago, she was still something of a newcomer.

Four years on, the Jamaican is no longer the underdog and came to London as the world leader. She lived up to expectations too and retained her Olympic 100m title, although she fought hard in the closing stages to hold her form against the might of World Champion Carmelita Jeter. Just three hundredths separated the pair in the end, but Fraser-Pryce came out on top in 10.75. Veronica Campbell-Brown took bronze in 10.81 – the fastest ever time by a third-place finisher at any championships. American duo Tianna Madison and Allyson Felix set respective PBs of 10.85 and 10.89 as five women dipped under 10.9, reminiscent of the Olympic final from 20 years prior. With eighth-placer Blessing Okagbare running 11.01, it was the greatest-depth women's 100m race in history. The women's Discus Throw was also of a great standard too, having witnessed a few down years recently. Two-time European champion Sandra Perkovic added to her ever-growing medal tally by taking gold with a national record of 69.11m.

World leader Darya Pishchalnikova battled her way up the ranks throughout the competition. She was just fifth at half-way, then moved up to third with 66.42m before going into second with 67.56m in round five. World champion Li Yanfeng could not respond and took bronze with 67.22m – the first time since 1988 that three women had broken 67 metres at the Olympics. History rewritten in men's 20km Race Walk Before today, China had never won a medal of any colour in a men's race walking event at the Olympics, despite being one of the super powers of the event. Guatemala, meanwhile, had never won an Olympic medal in any sport. But today both of those records were broken in the men's 20km Race Walk. A lead group of 12 athletes emerged in the second half, led by Chinese duo Wang Zhen and Chen Ding. Defending champion Valeriy Borchin was also with the lead pack and with two 2km laps to go he was one of six walkers still in contention.

But then came the drama as world bronze medallist Luis Fernando Lopez was disqualified, closely followed by world record-holder and world silver medallist Vladimir Kanaykin. Then in the final kilometre Borchin crashed to the ground in dramatic fashion, completely and utterly exhausted. He had to be stretchered off the course and taken away by an ambulance. The medallists then became clear as Chen had made a big break and was way out in front. Barrondo gradually opened up a gap on Wang as he chased down Chen, but the 19-year-old's lead was too big. Chen set an Olympic record of 1:18:46 to become the youngest ever Olympic medallist in a men's race walking event. Barrondo, meanwhile, took silver for Guatemala in 1:18:57, also dipping inside the previous Olympic record, while Wang held on for bronze (1:19:25). Men's 100m showdown gets underway The men's 100m at this Olympics could be one of the greatest ever as the four fastest men of all-time are set to clash in tomorrow's final, and today all the big contenders safely made it through their heats.

The first three heats were won by Americans, while the next three were won by Jamaicans. Tyson Gay was first up, winning in 10.08, followed by Justin Gatlin in the second heat (9.97) and Ryan Bailey in the third heat, running a stunning 9.88 – the fastest ever time in an Olympic semi-final. And then it was the turn of Usain Bolt, who revealed little about his form as he won his heat in a moderate 10.09. Asafa Powell (10.04) and Yohan Blake (10.00) took the fifth and sixth heats, while Dwain Chambers won the seventh one in a season's best of 10.02. Scare for Greene in 400m hurdles semis Perhaps one of the most shocking races of the evening session was the first semi-final of the men's 400m hurdles. Felix Sanchez rolled back the years to run a world-leading 47.76 – his fastest time since winning the 2004 Olympic title in Athens.

In a high-quality race that saw Jehue Gordon set a national record (47.96) and Kerron Clement clock a season's best (48.12), World champion Dai Greene appeared to be out of it as he finished fourth in 48.19. But it proved to be the fastest of all the semis and Greene's time was good enough to make it through to the final. Javier Culson won the second semi from Angelo Taylor, 47.93 to 47.95, while Michael Tinsley won the third (48.18). The finalists were also decided in the women's 400m. Defending champion Christine Ohuruogu closed well on 2009 World champion Sanya Richards-Ross in the first semi, 50.07 to 50.22, as Amantle Montsho and Francena McCorory were the top two in the second semi. The third and final semi was the fastest with three women – Antonina Krivoshapka, DeeDee Trotter and Novlene Williams-Mills – going sub-50.

Olympics over for Murer and Merritt World champion Fabiana Murer was one of a handful of shock exits from the women's Pole Vault competition. She failed to clear the 4.55m that was required to reach the final. So too did three-time Olympic finalist Monika Pyrek, Greek record-holder Nikoleta Kiriakopoulou and former World record-holder Svetlana Feofanova. But medal favourites Yelena Isinbayeva, Silke Spiegelburg and Jenn Suhr all safely progressed and will compete in Monday's final. The injury that forced LaShawn Merritt to DNF at the Monaco Samsung Diamond League came back to haunt him and the defending Olympic champion only completed 100m of the track before pulling up. He was the only shock exit though, as Jonathan Borlee stole the show with his 44.43 national record to win his heat. Brother Kevin Borlee, World champion Kirani James and World Junior champion Luguelin Santos were among the other heat winners, while double amputee Oscar Pistorius made history as the first track and field athlete to compete in both the Paralympics and the Olympic Games.

Ethiopia was out in force in the women's 3000m Steeplechase as all three of their athletes – Etenesh Diro, Sofia Assefa and Hiwot Ayalew – impressed in qualifying. But World champion Yuliya Zaripova, World silver medallist Habiba Ghribi and African record-holder Milcah Chemos all looked good too. Defending Champion Gulnara Galkina scraped through as the 12th fastest overall. Jon Mulkeen for the IAAF Olympics 2012: Andy Dunn on Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah and Team GB's track and field goldrush - Andy Dunn - Mirror Online Just as they wept after Greg Rutherford’s wonderfully unlikely triumph in the long jump , just as they wept after Mo Farah’s wonderfully brave triumph in the 10,000metres. But the tears had started long before then. They had welled up down on the banks of a posh school’s lake and flowed like a riptide along the twists and turns of the Thames to the heart of East ­London. For a nation damp-eyed with pride, these are the Crying Games.

No wonder Britain blubs. More tears: Katherine Copeland and Sophie Hosking of Great Britain cry before receiving their gold medals for the Lightweight Women's Double Sculls (Photo: Harry How) Our athletes stitched a golden seam through a Saturday few will forget. From the breath-stealing triumph of the men’s four and the women’s double sculls on Eton’s privileged ­waters to the victory of Ennis in the capital’s working-class ­suburbs. This was yet ­another day to unite a nation. Starting under biblically leaden skies, success raised its umbrella over the ­entire country. Gold keeps coming and Great Britain lies third in the standings. And if they minted medals for watery emotion, we would be in an ­unassailable lead. But these great British Games are not just about tears of joy. Those of us fortunate enough to be lakeside yesterday left with contrasting images burned into the soul. Glory: Alex Gregory, Pete Reed, Tom James and Andrew Triggs-Hodge celebrate their win (Photo: Phil Walter) There was the release of ­unconfined joy from Andrew Triggs Hodge, Pete Reed, Tom James and Alex Gregory ...

and then there was the unimaginable agony suffered by Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter, pipped for gold in the ­lightweight men’s double sculls. Unable to stand, unable to speak, barely able to draw breath, physically sick into the cruel water, Hunter found ­solace only in the arms of Sir Steve Redgrave. Brave men wept for a different reason. Spent: Talking to Mark Hunter and Zac Purchase left John Inverdale in tears too (Photo: BBC) But the achievements of Great Britain’s athletes have not been founded on emotion alone. Years of meticulous preparation and dedication has been arrowed towards this ­glorious two-week climax. And no one does preparation quite like Dave Brailsford. No detail is left unattended to. The master coach’s cycling squad are making these Games their own. The victorious pursuit team of Jo Rowsell, Laura Trott and Dani King – who broke the world record for a sixth time in six races – made it three gold medals from the velodrome ­already. Golden girls: (L-R) Dani King, Laura Trott, and Joanna Rowsell with their team pursuit golds (Photo: Bryn Lennon / Getty) This is Britain’s pleasuredome.

Peaking at the right time is a Brailsford ­speciality. And there is plenty more to come over the next few days. Hopefully, there is more to come in the athletics stadium because, let’s face it, that is where the heart of an Olympic Games lies. London 2012: It's Super Saturday!

Team GB scoops TENTH gold with two more rowing wins on busiest day of the Olympic Games | Daily Mail Online Super Saturday continues: Team GB scoop SIX golds as rowers power to double glory before female cyclists, golden girl Ennis, long jumper Rutherford and 10,000m star Farah top the podium Jess Ennis crowned Olympic heptathlon champion with stunning 800m win Long jump star Greg Rutherford storms to gold minutes later Mo Farah caps remarkable day for British sport with 10,000m gold Women's team pursuit cyclists storm to gold after double rowing triumph Andrew Triggs Hodge, Pete Reed, Tom James and Alex Gregory were victorious at Eton Dorney in the men's coxless four earlier today Great Britain's Sophie Hosking and Katherine Copeland claimed rowing gold with an emphatic win in the women's double scull Paul McCartney among spectators who roared cyclists to gold in Velodrome Super Saturday six remember their finest hour at London 2012 Games | Sport | The Guardian 2012 in review Super Saturday six remember their finest hour at London 2012 Games Lord Coe and Britain's Super Saturday gold medallists recall

 one of the greatest sporting days the country has ever witnessed Jessica Ennis is close to tears after winning the 800m and realising her Olympic dream at the London 2012 Games.

Photograph: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters Friday 28 December 2012 17.00 EST First published on Friday 28 December 2012 17.00 EST Close 11.36am Gold men's four The focus in the morning of Saturday 4 August falls on Eton Dorney and the final day of the Olympic rowing regatta, where the blue riband event of the men's four is the most eagerly anticipated event. GB edge an epic battle with Australia and cross the line first at 11.36am. Andrew Triggs-Hodge picks up the story: "We went in confident but knew it was going to take an incredible row to beat the Australians. Each boat already had three gold medals in it and had sacrificed everything to be there. We both felt a huge amount of pressure: if there's one GB medal to bank on it's the boat coached by Jürgen Grobler. "In the race itself we led virtually from start to finish and, afterwards, I remember saying: 'If we were Picassos, that would be our masterpiece.' I still feel the same way.

To put all those different components together over six minutes on one day is something special. That day all four of us made sure we were absolutely at our peak. Everything was in tune, everything worked perfectly and we delivered our finest performance. "Winning was also a huge relief. We had poured so much into it and put our whole lives on the line. Seeing how the Australians reacted after the race – their triple gold medallist Drew Ginn broke down and started crying – it was very easy to imagine how we could have felt. You didn't say sorry but you knew the worth of what he'd lost. He clearly didn't feel he'd won a silver. That's the risk you put yourself under when you're aiming so high. I would have hated to be in that situation." 11.57am Gold women's lightweight double sculls Fifteen minutes later Sophie Hosking and Katherine Copeland start the women's lightweight double sculls final in lane six. They overtake pacesetters Greece and unexpectedly beat China to the line for the day's second gold. Hosking recalls: "Sitting on the start line before the final I was incredibly calm because I knew I was as prepared as I ever would be for anything in sport.

It was our opportunity to seize. "My abiding memory will always be crossing the finishing line ahead of the Chinese. The crowd and the noise were just extraordinary. Behind me I could hear Kat saying: 'Have we just won the Olympics?' I turned round and said: 'Hello, yes we have!' It was then she uttered her immortal line: 'We're going to be on a stamp!' It felt like such an intimate moment in the boat although, having spent time in Australia recently, I now realise the pictures went all around the world. Throughout the buildup we hadn't allowed ourselves to think what it might feel like to become Olympic champions. We'll always have that day as a memory." In the men's lightweight double sculls soon after there is drama and disappointment for Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter who can win only silver in a race restarted following a stoppage for Purchase's broken seat.

Elsewhere, in Hyde Park, race favourite Helen Jenkins misses out in the women's triathlon but there is better news from the Olympic stadium where Jessica Ennis throws a personal best of 47.49m in the javelin, her weakest event, to give herself a cushion of around 13sec over her nearest rival going into this evening's final heptathlon event, the 800m. The focus now switches to the velodrome, where there is only one gold on offer today – and GB are hot favourites. 6.09pm Gold women's team pursuit Dani King, Laura Trott and Joanna Rowsell break the world record in their heat against Canada, then smash it again in the final as they easily beat the USA. Rowsell picks up the story: "The semi-finals and final were only an hour apart so it was quite hard work. But it all went to plan and afterwards it was a complete whirlwind. I can't even remember who presented us with our medals on the podium because it all happened so quickly. "After the semi-final the coaches looked at all the data and then decided on the lineup for the final. We had a quick meeting and I was told I would race in the final.

That was a big relief. I wasn't nervous at all. I was completely confident that we would win it. "The noise was absolutely phenomenal. I've never experienced anything like it. The crowd were going absolutely crazy during our lap of honour, I was trying to spot my family but I couldn't see them because everyone was leaning over the railings and waving flags. "We knew beforehand that Jessica Ennis and Mo Farah were racing that day and we knew in the morning that the rowers would have a good chance of gold. So we expected it to be a pretty good day." Attention now turns to the Olympic Stadium, and the anticipation builds for the expected processional triumph of London 2012 poster girl Ennis, while the men's long jump, including Greg Rutherford, gets underway at 7.55pm. His second jump of 8.21m puts him top of the leader board; his fourth jump of 8.31m extends his lead. Meanwhile, at 8.59pm Ennis steps on the track for her heat of the 800m and the stadium erupts.

9.02pm Gold heptathlon Ennis storms through to win her heat and crosses the line, arms aloft, as 80,000 rise to their feet in the stadium. Ennis recalls: "It was a nerve-racking day for me. Everyone around me in my team seemed calm, happy even, there had been no major errors, no disasters but I kept thinking: 'It's not over yet.' The long jump was always going to be my biggest challenge. It had been troublesome all year. Even at the holding camp in Portugal, right before the Games, I only had one good training session and the rest of them were very worrying. Although I kept that a secret. "I couldn't help worrying I was going to throw it all away – as I did the world title in the javelin last year. I didn't want to make that mistake again. I didn't. I jumped 6.48m and Chell [coach Toni Minichiello] beamed. "Then came the javelin and I threw a personal best. I was really emotional afterwards. I remember walking back through the stadium and seeing Derry [Suter, masseur], and him just smiling, and me welling up.

Neither of us said anything but we knew what the other was thinking. I knew then that I was so, so close to the gold medal, I would have had to do something really stupid to mess it all up. "Of course I did worry about doing something stupid in the 800m, losing a shoe or getting barged out the way. It happens. Before the race I always ask Chell: 'What do I need to run to win?' That day he rolled his eyes and laughed. He said: 'Honestly, do you want me to go through it all?' I said: 'Yes!' "He told me I had 15 seconds on the closest competition – it was great to know I didn't have to beat anyone by seven or eight seconds as I had done previously. "Even with that margin I was still incredibly nervous. I hate the 800m. That moment where you step out for your race and you see all the other heptathletes dying on the track, bodies literally getting dragged off and you've got to run. It's a horrible sight. You just want it to be over. "The gun went and I gave it everything.

Crossing the line, finishing first at a home Olympic Games, it was the most incredible feeling. It had been such a long buildup – it was all anyone had been talking about for years – and suddenly it was over and I'd done it. I remember lying on the floor with my hands over my face thinking: 'I've done it, I can't believe I've done it.' It was the most amazing moment of my entire life. It still is. "As an athlete you can never really imagine that you will be part of an historic occasion like Super Saturday. It is hard enough to imagine winning your own gold medal, let alone that it might happen on the greatest ever night for British athletics. Those kind of moments are epic, like Cathy Freeman in the Sydney Olympics. And yet there it was happening to us. I just remember seeing Mo getting ready to race just as I finished doing my lap of honour and giving him the thumbs-up. Next thing I knew there were three British gold medallists. It was a massive honour to have been a part of that night." 9.24pm Gold men's long jump Greg Rutherford is confirmed as the winner minutes after Mo Farah's 10,000m race begins.

He starts his lap of honour as Ennis's dies down and with attention split between him and the unfolding drama on the track. Rutherford recalls: "I remember most the initial rush of emotion when I knew I had won. It's an incredibly strong feeling. All of a sudden, I started smiling. And kept on smiling. I'll always remember that moment when I just started smiling. "It was just a rush of pride. The thing that I'd always wanted more than anything else had happened – and in London as well. It took years and years of hard work, a lot of sacrifices and a lot of things going completely wrong but it had finally happened. "I have watched the tape since. I had to. I needed to get my head around it. I am still struggling to comprehend that I was part of a night that people are saying was one of the greatest sporting nights ever. You become part of this bigger thing. "But I was a little bit disappointed too. I had one more jump and I wanted to do something massive. I'd wanted to do something really amazing. I wanted to jump further and for it to be really special.

It would have been nice to have broken a record and to have had the fairytale ending but I was fighting the emotion of having won gold and I knew straightaway I was not going to be able to jump properly. I gave it a go but it didn't happen – and that was a shame." 9.46pm Gold men's 10,000m With Rutherford leading the cheering from trackside, Farah makes his move with 500m to go and, roared on by the crowd, sprints home for Britain's third gold in less than an hour. Farah recalls his day: "I woke up at my normal time, about 8am. At 8.30am I went for a gentle jog; just about 25 minutes – probably three and a half to four miles. I always like to wear tight leggings when I go for a jog in the morning before a race, otherwise I want to run. The leggings help slow me down. "I had my headphones on, was listening to music, in my own world. I came back and did a bit of stretching, jumped in the shower and got some breakfast: toast but no coffee.

I try to stay off the coffee until just before my race because it gives me a buzz. "The day went slowly. I was excited, and didn't know how to occupy myself. I chilled out a bit in the flat, then shaved my hair. I always like to shave my hair before a race. That's another superstition. I don't have many – just the tight leggings and head shave really. "I had a late lunch: rice, tuna, no sauce. I wasn't racing till nearly 9pm and I allow myself a maximum five hours between eating and the race. Late afternoon, I had another lie down, sorted out my spikes and then got the bus to the stadium. "You do get nervous. Of course, you do. But you've just got to deal with it. So I talked to my coach, who brought spare spikes, did some warm-ups, passed the time. I could tell there was a fantastic atmosphere in the stadium, but didn't have a clue what it would be like running there. By the time I got out, I knew Jess had won the heptathlon. Everybody was so pumped up, and I could just hear people cheering my name. The stadium was pounding. Boom, boom, boom.

It couldn't get any better. Everything felt right. I just wanted to do something special. "If I close my eyes, I see the end of the race and my family around me, my daughter Rhianna so excited jumping into my arms, me the proud dad giving her a hug. And it was like: 'Wow!' And I saw my wife, Tania, with the twins in her stomach and I looked at them and I thought: 'Them kids, they're proud aren't they?' "After the race I had to be drug-tested, and that took ages. You have to wait two hours before they take your blood and urine. I didn't get to meet my wife till 1am in the athletes' house and I spent a bit of time with family. Tania and Rhianna then went home and I went back to my flat in the athletes' village on my own. I went to bed but I couldn't sleep. I kept the medal in the drawer by the side of my bed.

I was in bed all night awake, just thinking: 'Did that really happen?'" What it all meant Great Britain had recorded their most successful day at the Olympics since the 1908 Games, a momentous occasion the Locog chairman, Sebastian Coe, described at the time as "the greatest day of sport I have ever witnessed". Lord Coe recalls his outstanding memories of the day: "I started the day at Weymouth. I was down there with IOC president Jacques Rogge watching his all-time hero Ben Ainslie. He thinks he's a complete genius. Jacques was out on the water and I stayed landlocked, going around thanking everyone in the town for helping us deliver the event and doing all the things an organising committee chairman does. "But before that I stood in the Olympic hospitality area overlooking the bay, waiting for the images of the stadium to be beamed up. One of my most enduring memories of the Games is just standing there and watching that TV set, not quite with tears in my eyes but just thinking: 'Oh my God, we've nailed it. We've got that stadium full.' For me, in a way, Super Saturday was about seeing that stadium absolutely buzzing.

"I don't mean this remotely disrespectfully to Greg and Jess and Mo but for me they were the icing on the cake. I had stuck my neck out about the stadium, the Olympic legacy, the retention of the track and field component – but I accept that my argument now would have been significantly weaker if we had only had the stadium 50% full. "I can't remember how I got back from Weymouth but I chased back to the Olympic Park to make it in time for the evening session. That night, I had the great pleasure of giving Jess her medal. As an IAAF councillor you get the opportunity to deliver a medal and I'll always go for a British competitor. I gave her a medal in Berlin [world championship gold] and said I would do it again in Daegu [world silver]. I did it in Daegu and I could tell she was pretty disappointed. It was interesting. She was nice and gracious, but she had mentally moved on by the time the medal came through. I told her then that I would put my name down for the heptathlon presentation in London because she was going to win it. And she did. "It was pure theatre that night.

If you'd said to any of us we'd have had three gold medals that night … well, you'd have got long odds. It was fantastic, unbelievable. The scene had been set, but coming out of the stadium that night was something else." 'The USA crowds went quiet. Europe had pulled off the unthinkable. It was amazing to be part of history' Published: 28 Dec 2012 Barney Ronay Published: 28 Dec 2012

Question: On 'Super Saturday' Jessica Ennis and Mo Farah won athletics gold for Team GB, who was the third gold medalist on the day?
Answer: Greg Rutherford