The 21-year-old from Mansfield dominated the race from start to finish and was never seriously threatened as she touched first in 8min 24.69sec - just over 10 seconds off the world record she set in the Olympic final two years ago.

South Africa’s Wendy Trott, fastest qualifier for the final, was a distant second in 8:26.96 while Australia’s Melissa Gorman claimed bronze in 8:32.37.

Adlington, picking up her third Games medal so far following bronzes in the 200m freestyle and the 4x200m relay, told insidethegames: "Coming here, if I wanted to get a gold medal, it was going to be in that event to be honest.

"I just decided to go for it from the start and at 400m I saw I was a bit ahead.

"I thought ‘I might as well stick at this pace, just keep it nice and smooth’.

"It wasn’t about the time at all - this week has not been about times for anyone, it’s been about the racing.

"It’s been a long season so it’s nice to finish off with a gold medal."

Day four also saw Northern Ireland claim their first medal of the Games as they secured third place in cycling’s men’s team pursuit.

The quartet of Sean Downey, Martyn Irvine, Philip Lavery and David McCann shook off the challenge of hosts India to take the bronze.

The medal was actually Northern Ireland’s first on the track since the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games 20 years ago.

Australia beat New Zealand to take gold in the final as the hosts of the last event in Melbourne four years ago continue to stretch their lead at the top of the 2010 Commonwealth Games medal table.

Australia now have 68 medals, 32 of which are gold, to leave them well clear of hosts India with 34 medals and 14 golds in second place and England with 45 medals and 12 golds in third.

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