Even the fact that it was the shortest winning jump for 48 years failed to take the gloss off his night.

The 25-year-old went into the final as an outside contender for a medal in a strong field, but seemingly possessed by the frenzied home support of an exceptional crowd, he produced a leap of 8.31 metres in the fourth round to claim a stunning win.

With 80,000 fans packed into the Olympic Stadium, Rutherford (pictured) looked like a man determined not to disappoint and following a fluffed jump in the first round he followed it up with a leap of 8.21 in the second.

Another big leap of 8.14 appeared in the third before his fourth round 8.31 came as he was roared on by the fans.

The final two jumps proved just a procession for the Briton as none of his rivals managed to get close to him.

An airborne Greg Rutherford flies to Olympic glory in the men's long jump

Australia's Mitchell Watt finished a distant second with a best jump of 8.16m with Will Claye of the United States third with 8.12m.

But it was an event that belonged to Rutherford, who becomes Britain's first Olympic champion in the event since Lynn "The Leap" Davies took gold in Tokyo in 1964.

Rutherford's winning effort was the shortest distance since the victory of Davies, who had jumped 8.07m. 

Rather fittingly, Davies, who is now the President of UK Athletics, was in the Olympic Stadium to watch and the 70-year-old Welshman joined in the cheers as the young star took a lap on honour with the Union Jack draped around him.

"I knew I was in great shape," said an ecstatic Rutherford, following the win.

"I thought I would jump further than that but I don't care.

"I am an Olympic champion."

Rutherford's win came on perhaps of the greatest evening in the history of British athletics with Jessica Ennis winning the heptathlon and Mo Farah producing an extraordinary finish to win the men's 10,000 metres – meaning that the host nation claimed three gold medals in the space of an hour.

"What a night for British athletes," added Rutherford.

Greg Rutherford shares his golden moment with the 80,000 capacity crowd in the Olympic Stadium

"Three gold medals out of three."

The win was wholly deserved for the Milton Keynes athlete, who comes from strong sporting stock as his great-grandfather, Jock Rutherford, played football for Newcastle United and Arsenal winning both League Championship and FA Cup winners' medals.

But it also comes after a painful Beijing 2008 when, shortly before qualifying for the Games, he found out that his grandfather was dying from cancer.

He made the final in China but, suffering from a kidney and lung infection, failed to clear eight metres and was eliminated after just three jumps.

However, he has made the perfect return to the Olympics with an historic gold medal in front of his home crowd on a night for Britain that will be remembered for many years to come.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]