Rio 2016: Heather Stanning and Helen Glover defend women's pair rowing title to claim Team GB's fifth gold

The pair saw off late challenges to retain their London 2012 title

(Getty)

Helen Glover and Heather Stanning stormed to gold at Rio 2016, retaining their Olympic women's pair title in style.

Four years on from lighting up London 2012, their unbeaten run that stretches back to 2011 was never in doubt on a dank morning in Brazil.

Glover and Stanning led from the outset, winning in seven minutes 18.29 seconds to become the first female British rowers to retain their Olympic crown.

Stanning told BBC One: "It's not done until it's done. You've got to cross the line first. We knew it was important to get a good start and that's what we did.

"To be fair I think my first stroke was pretty shoddy. I was a bit slow reacting compared to what I can do."

Glover added: "It was good, it was great, Heather was amazing.

"We've just got to say a massive, massive thank you to Robin (Williams) our coach. He just put that together, that is for him - four years of hard work. He's been really ill, he's been away from home for most of the year and he deserves to be up here with us speaking to you guys."

Stanning said: "Without him we'd be nowhere."

The duo embraced after crossing the line at the end of a regatta they were 1/9 favourites to win with some bookmakers.

Glover and Stanning were given a scare in the heats by the Danish crew, eventually sneaking victory by 0.16 secs, but cruised through Thursday's semi-final.

There was a similarly dominant display from the indomitable duo in the final as they extended their unbeaten run together to a 39th race.

Cheered on by friends and family at the Lagoa, the world and European champions were 1.77secs up after 500 metres.

They were 3.58s ahead at the halfway mark and would eventually win by 1.24, seeing off a late surge from New Zealand.

Reflecting on the London Games four years ago, Glover felt this latest success was a bigger achievement.

She said: "I think it means so much more. We put an awful lot of pressure on ourselves. I've been so emotional this week and this is not me at all so it just means so much more to us. Immediately it was more than London.

"I know it was a home Games and there's nothing more special but this was defending a title. This is not being good once it's being good every day, every race. It just feels so good with all the pressure we put on ourselves. It's pretty immense."

And Glover refused to rule out going for a third title at Tokyo 2020, saying: "You never know, we've got our families to think about."

PA