Anna Watkins said she and Katherine Grainger could savour their Olympic gold medal before they even crossed the finish line.

The 29-year-old Leander Club member won the women’s double sculls at Eton Dorney alongside Katherine Grainger to give Britain their second rowing gold of the Games.

Victory was all the more sweet as Grainger had won silver at the last three Olympics.

Britain started strongly to achieve a 1.4-second lead over Australia at halfway.

They maintained their momentum to power home in 6mins 55.82secs, with the Aussies second in 6.58.55.

Watkins said: “I knew we had won it just before halfway. “Once we got out to nearly a length and were still moving away, we were pretty confident.

“In the last 100m, there was no way it was going to go wrong.

“We had time to enjoy it, which is not something we dreamed of.”

A strong crosswind meant that lane six was the best to row in as it offered the most protection, so Britain went in five after a redraw.

Australia got the lane six slot, but had to settle for silver.

Watkins said: “It was amazing. You are just surrounded by sound. I can’t describe it.

“You feel like you are in a stadium, they seem behind you and in front of you and around you.”

With Grainger being 36, it is possible that she and Watkins may never race together again.

Watkins said: “The only sad thought was that it might have been our last race together.

“We will now give ourselves a few months to see our friends and family and catch up with people.”