The 19-year-old from Flint (pictured top) has long been one of the most exciting young prospects in the martial art and she proved her undoubted class on the biggest possible stage to beat China's world champion, Yuzhuo Hou, in the women's -57kg final.

It was a repeat of the World Championship final last year when Hou struck in sudden death to claim the title.

But Jones gained revenge in perfect fashion as she defeated her rival 6-4 in a tight encounter.

The first round saw defence dominate as the pair went in with the scoreboard still showing two zeroes.

However, Jones edged into the lead in the second before a thrilling third and final round saw the two exchange vicious kicks with the girl from Wales holding on in the final seconds to claim a two-point win to delight the home fans.

As the bout ended, Jones screamed in ecstasy and threw her head guard into the air in celebration.

Jade Jones (red head guard) gives world champion Yuzhuo Hou a gold medal-winning kick

"I still doesn't feel real," she said through tears of joy.

"It feels crazy.

"I've dreamt about this for ages and the crowd have just been amazing.

"This can't be beaten."

She added: "When I came out I just wanted to go on and win, and to be the first ever British taekwondo athlete to win Olympic gold is amazing.

"To win Olympic gold is special but to perform in front of all my friends and family is just amazing."

As well as being Britain's maiden Olympic gold medal in the sport, it was only the host nation's second ever taekwondo Olympic medal following the Beijing 2008 bronze won by Sarah Stevenson, who will be in action tomorrow and aiming for another podium spot.

The win afforded Jones another piece of history: she is now the first British athlete to claim both Olympic and Youth Olympic gold medals after securing victory in the latter at Singapore in 2010.

Her triumph over Hou capped a superb London 2012 competition for Jones after she stunned world number one Li-Cheng Tseng 9-6 from Chinese Taipei in the semi-finals.

"I'm so proud of her," said Jones' coach Paul Green.

"I don't tell her that enough.

Martin Stamper (red head guard) narrowly lost out on a -68kg bronze medal to Rohullah Nikpah

"The work this girl has put in over the last six months has been ridiculous.

"Every other day she's in tears but she always delivered under pressure.

"She's still got things to build on, which is what is so exciting."

Meanwhile, Team GB team-mate Martin Stamper narrowly lost his men's -68kg bronze medal bout 5-3 against Rohullah Nikpah of Afghanistan.

The 26-year-old from Liverpool produced a gutsy display but just couldn't do enough to claim a spot on the podium, Nikpah claiming his second consecutive Olympic bronze medal.

"I am devastated, to be honest," said Stamper.

"It is tough to take because I have worked hard and over the last two years my performances have picked up.

"But this Olympics has [given me] probably one of the best feelings I have ever had, walking out there and everyone going crazy.

"I can't praise the British crowd enough and a lot of them do not even know me."

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March 2012: Britain's Jones beats China's world taekwondo champion but misses gold at German Open
December 2011: Double medal success for GB taekwondo team at French Open
May 2011: Teenage sensation Jones takes silver on World Championships debut in South Korea
February 2011: Stamper and Jones are Britian's golden wonders
December 2010: Alan Hubbard - Why Koreans are finding it hard to keep up with the Jones