“I can’t believe this has happened to me! I am so happy!” Trott told the BBC on finishing the omnium.
“I was able to peak right on time,” she said before going on to thank her coach, friends and family.
The gold medal win was the icing on the cake for Britain on a day that has seen the host country beat its Beijing gold medal haul.
Silver in the omnium was taken by American Sarah Hammer while Annette Edmondson took bronze.
Trott won the omnium by a tiny 0.635 of a second – heartbreaking for Australia and the U.S.
Trott was up against Hammer, who won the individual pursuit to take the overall lead in the women’s omnium cycling event in the run up to today’s final.
However, Trott pulled out the stops and powered ahead of Hammer to take gold in an emotional finish.
It’s the first year that the omnium has been an Olympic event. For those still unclear, the cycling event consists of six separate races. Cyclists are awarded points in reverse order, and the rider with the lowest score after all six events have been completed will earn the gold medal.
Women’s omnium result
Gold medal: Laura Trott (GB)
Silver medal: Sarah Hammer (USA)
Bronze medal: Annette Edmondson (AUS)
