The 25-year-old world record holder from Dorset and world number two in the event, led from the outset at the Royal Artillery Barracks and went into today's final three points ahead after qualifying rounds this morning.

A nail-biting final shoot-out saw Wilson finish two clear of Sweden's Håkan Dahlby with a total score of 188 out of 200 shots fired, despite missing five shots, including a double.

The Dorset star only took up competitive shooting in 2006 after a snowboarding shoulder injury left him unable to play squash and cricket.

He smashed the world record in Arizona in March, scoring an incredible 198, and is now Britain's first shooting medallist since Richard Faulds won gold in the same event in Sydney 12 years ago.

Wilson needed one hit from the final two targets but nailed both before falling to his knees in tears.

A capacity crowd gave the new Olympic champion a standing ovation before he climbed into the first row of seats to greet his mother and tearful girlfriend Michelle.

Surrounded by photographers he simply said: "It's awesome, fantastic."

Dahlby took silver ahead of Russia's Vasily Mosin, who won bronze after a shoot-off with Kuwaiti Fehaid Aldeehani.

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