TOM James is a double Olympic champion after the former King’s School Chester student helped the men’s four defend their title with a sensational performance at London 2012.

James, Andrew Triggs Hodge, Pete Reed and Alex Gregory led from start to finish as they swept aside main rivals Australia to ensure Great Britain won rowing’s flagship event for the fourth successive Games following triumphs in Sydney, Athens and Beijing

Reigning world champion James, who was part of the boat which grabbed gold in Beijing four years ago, said: “It’s just unbelievable.

“I can’t describe what this atmosphere is like for the people at home.

“It’s beyond words – it’s epic, it’s magic, it’s emotional.

“The crowd are just phenomenal. It’s exciting to be here and I’m so proud.”

James and his crewmates beat Australia by a quarter of length to win Britain’s ninth gold medal of the London Olympics and send the Eton Dorney crowd into rapture.

James, from Coedpoeth near Wrexham, learned to row on the River Dee under the tutelage of Neville Orme.

He is the second King’s School old boy to win a medal at London 2012 after Chris Bartley took men’s lightweight four silver on Thursday.