Click here for factfiles of British crew

Britain's victorious men's eight rowers on Sunday paid tribute to the remarkable courage of the coach whose fight for life inspired their Olympic gold medal charge.

The crew of Andrew Lindsay, Ben Hunt-Davies, Simon Dennis, Louis Attrill, Luka Grubor, Kieran West, Fred Scarlett, Steve Trapmore and cox Rowley Douglas claimed Britain's first gold in the event since 1912 today to complete a best-ever medal haul from a Games regatta.

After the history-making efforts of Steve Redgrave and the coxless four 24 hours earlier, the eight completed a sensational day for the British squad following the dramatic silver success of the women's quadruple scull, the first British women to collect Olympic medals.

The men's outstanding effort was due in no small part to the galvanising qualities of Harry Mahon, a legendary figure in the world of rowing, who coached his native New Zealand to world championships success in the 1980s and Cambridge to a string of boat-race wins in the 90s.

Three years ago, the 58-year-old was diagnosed with cancer, but has confounded medical opinion to defy the disease for far longer than doctors predicted and continue to work with the British crews, with the eight getting some particular attention in the past few months.

"The attitude of Harry has been a great example to us," said Douglas.

"We said at the start line that if we had nine people with the same determination as he has shown every day of his life - to be a fighter and fight all the way - there was nothing to stop us winning the gold medal."

Lindsay, the Scot who signalled his intention to quit rowing after today's achievement, has previously fallen foul of Mahon's qualities as a twice-defeated Oxford Blue, but admitted his spirit had remained present throughout the race, which Britain led from start to finish.

"Half-way down the course I thought, 'Right, either we can do this or we can mess around and finish third or fourth,"' he recalled.

"Harry is a complete inspiration and an amazing coach, and what we have done today made him the happiest man in the world.

"When we got to the landing stage he had the biggest smile of all.

"I always hated him until this, when he always made them (Cambridge) win the Boat Race against us. But I have got to know him this year and his attitude is amazing.

"Every time they give him a week to live, he takes a month, and when they say he's got a month left, he makes it a year.

"He just shows you how to live your life without worrying about the small things."

Although arch rivals Australia, who beat Britain in their opening heat, launched a belated attack from the lane outside them, the eight held firm to win in a time of 5:33.08, eight tenths of a second ahead of the host nation with Croatia back in third.

Simon Dennis, in the sixth seat, admitted the crew's anger at failing to do their talents justice earlier in the week, when they had to qualify via the repechage section, had provided further motivation to fulfil their potential today.

"I have never been angrier than I was at the start today," he added.

"I knew that all of hell couldn't stop us if we got out in front and the others wouldn't stand a chance."