Britain assured women's individual pursuit gold medal on Saturday after Rebecca Romero and Wendy Houvenaghel qualified for the second day final.

Romero finished first with a time of 3 minutes 27.703 seconds at the Laoshan Velodrome, west of Beijing, ahead of her teammate, who clocked 3 minutes 27.829 seconds.

Both shined in the first round of the event, where six other riders also contested, including the American hopeful Sarah Hammer, gold medalist both at the 2006 and 2007 world championships.

"I'm really pleased, I've had coaches pulling me aside and telling me I've made history. Now I have at least got the silver," said Romero, who won silver in the quadruple sculls at the Athens Olympics.

With at least a silver, she had already become the first British athlete to win medals in two different Olympic disciplines.

"There's no other athlete in the Olympic Village that can say that," said the 28-year-old rider.

As to her country's domination of the event at the Beijing Olympics, she said they had anticipated Sarah Hammer and Katie Mactier of Australia would be there with them.

"No idea. I guess it's the pressure of the Olympics. I can't explain it," she said.

Houvenaghel showed a sign of relaxation, saying it was good to be able to go for gold and silver on Sunday.

"I was really pleased with today. It's really a case of getting as much rest as possible and giving everything in the final tomorrow," said Houvenaghel, who was placed fourth at this year's World Championships.

As to the final, the 33-year-old cyclist said whatever happened, it would really get nothing to do with who would win.

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2008)