The gold medal winning feat over the 3,000 metres was all the more impressive given that they have, in an unprecedented achievement, broken the team pursuit world record in each of their last six rides in the competition. 

The reigning world champions started the evening in front of a noisy, partisan crowd at the Velodrome crushing rivals Canada to qualify for the final against the US in a world record of 3:14.682.

The American's were in confident mood as they booked their spot in the gold medal final after an impressive win over Australia in a national record time of 3:16.853.

But the USA team of Sarah Hammer, Dotsie Bausch and Lauren Tamayo proved to be no match for the Britons, who, boosted by a crowd that included Opening Ceremony star and former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney, stormed to the top of the podium on what is proving one of the fastest cycling tracks in history.

The American team was blitzed completely, finishing over five seconds behind in 3:19.727.

Canada took the bronze in 3:17.915 with victory in their race against Australia.

After one of the most spectacular track cycling performances in recent memory, the night belonged to the Britons.

Dani King, Laura Trott and Joanna Rowsell in action at the London 2012 women's team pursuit track cycling final 

"It is pretty overwhelming," said Rowsell, who led out the team.

"It is very easy to get carried away with the noise and the atmosphere.

"But once the race starts you feed off that.

"It's an incredible feeling, the crowd have been fantastic.

"The whole country has been getting behind the Olympics and it is brilliant.

Britain's win comes in the first staging of the women's event at the Olympics and follows a gold medal for the men's team pursuiters on Friday.

Trott, the youngest of the trio at 20, will also go for gold in the women's omnium, a multiple race even that begins next week.

Jason Kenny (right) races ahead of Bernard Esterhuizen of South Africa in the London 2012 men's sprint track cycling quarter-final

If successful, she will become only the second female track cyclist to win two track golds at a single Games, joining France's Félicia Ballanger who won the 500m time trial and women's sprint at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Elsewhere at the Velodrome, Britain's Jason Kenny qualified easily for the quarter-final of the men's sprint disposing of South African Bernard Esterhuizen without even reaching top gear and received a glowing review form Mark Cavendish in the BBC commentary box.

"Jason Kenny was absolutely brilliant," said Cavendish, who missed out on a medal in the men's road race on day one of the Olympics.

"It would have been a tough choice for the selectors to pick him over Sir Chris Hoy [in the men's sprint] but he's shown he's the perfect choice for another British gold medal."

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