Today’s action could see Mo Farah become Britain’s greatest track and field athlete as he goes for gold in the 5,000m.

Victory in the event in which he is already world champion, seven days after he set the Olympic Stadium alight by winning the 10,000m, would top a golden Games for Team GB.

McKeever, from Wiltshire, led from the front watched by yet another packed crowd at Eton Dorney.

He punched the air as he crossed the line, splashing water at the side of his boat after winning gold.

After his victory the 28-year-old told the BBC he felt “not elation, more relief and so happy I could do it in front of the home crowd – it’s brilliant”.

He said he woke up today at 5am “like a kid at Christmas wanting to open my presents”.

“I am going to get that present in a minute,” he said before his medal ceremony.

Asked how he felt about being dubbed the “Usain Bolt of the water”, he said: “Luckily I have the gold medal to go with it now. I am more worthy of that tagline.”

His gold takes Britain’s medal tally to 58 – 26 gold, 15 silver and 17 bronze.

Meanwhile in the C1 category B final, Andrzej Jezierski of Cork finished first, securing a ninth place overall.

Elsewhere today, the real Usain Bolt will be looking for his third gold of the Games as the world’s fastest man joins Jamaica for the 4x100m relay final.

Diver Tom Daley, 18, survived a major scare as he left it until his last dive last night to nervously progress past the first round of the men’s 10m platform and is diving again today in a bid to reach tonight’s final.

Ireland will be hopeful of a second gold medal in the ring when John Joe Nevin bids to fulfil his lifelong ambition of winning an Olympic title against family friend Luke Campbell.

“It’s all about the gold medal for me now,” Campbell said.

“But I’m proud of what I’ve done so far and I’m happy to make my family proud and my little lad and my home town of Hull.

“The support I have received from home and in the arena has been amazing.”