Kelly Sotherton claimed Britain's first athletics medal of these Olympic Games when she clinched bronze in the heptathlon - missing out on the silver by just 11 points.

It was a gutsy performance by the 27-year-old former bank clerk, who came to Athens ranked third in the world this year but fearing the pressure of her first Olympics would affect her performance.

Indeed, Charles van Commenee, who coaches both Sotherton and Denise Lewis, wrote off her chances before these Games because he felt she had neither the form or the mental strength to medal, although that was probably a piece of clever psychology.

Instead, the Isle of Wight-born athlete, who moved to the midlands to train with Lewis, rose to the Olympic challenge on both days and sealed her medal when she clocked 2:15.92 to win her heat of the 800m, the seventh and final discipline.

It would have been silver had she beaten Austra Skujyte by 4.5 seconds, but in the end the margin was 3.65 seconds and the Lithuanian held on for silver.

The gold medal was won comfortably as expected by 21-year-old Swedish sensation Carolina Kluft, who now has the Olympic crown to add to the world title she won in Paris a year ago. Her total points haul was a season's best 6952 while Sotherton notched a personal best of 6424.

Sotherton said: "I don't know the enormity of what I have done yet. I have dreamed about this and it is a great relief, I don't know what to think because I can't believe it yet.

"My coach said top eight would be good and I achieved that but I think he just didn't want to put any pressure on me in my first major Games.

"I feel I coped pretty well mentally, it didn't feel like the Olympics, it just felt like an ordinary competition because I was competing against the same people.

"I am slightly disappointed because I went out in the 800m trying to get the silver, but bronze is not a bad consolation.

"I had a PB in only one event, the high jump, so I know there is more to come.

"I hope this sets the tone for the rest of the athletes and gets the ball rolling."

While Sotherton celebrated, it was a sad night for the deposed Olympic champion Lewis, Britain's golden girl in Sydney four years ago.

The 31-year-old's battle-weary body finally caught up with her and Lewis retired from the competition shortly before this final session was due to begin.

"I have put my heart and soul into this year with only one goal and one mission in mind - to come away from the Olympic Games with a medal," said Lewis.

"I am physically and emotionally devastated and anyone who has ever understood what it is like to be a sportsperson will understand what I am really talking about.

"I am completely empty at this moment and unable to continue and would do myself even less justice going through the motions when all my hopes have gone."