JO HAMMERS OUT A MELBOURNE GOLD

It was the third round and the versatile 40-year-old had just one throw left to record a distance. She had blown her first two by allowing the hammer to touch the sourrounding safety netting around the throwing circle.

It was cold, it was blustery and increasingly drizzly and mess up the third and she was out of the competition.

But, after a short walk to gather her composure and re-focus for throw No 3, she hurled the hammer 41.60 metres and it got gold.

Two rivals still had three attempts to throw further and steal the title.

But European champion Pavlina Malerova of the Czech Rebublic had to take home the silver with her 40.24m. And the defending Deaflympics champion, Heather Withrow of the USA, also the world record holder, could take only bronze with her throw of 34.85.

Davison said: "I'm elated and so proud to have won GB's first gold of the Games.

"I felt I didn't perform to my usual standard, but nevertheless I am over the moon to get the medal I have trained so hard for over the past two years. I hope my gold will inspire the rest of the team to make this Deaflympics one of the best ever for Great Britain.

"It was a heavy day of nerves and pressure and I wasn't able to produce a good performance in the Discus but there will always be a next time."

Davison, who is coached by Charles Fogg, had gone into the Games with great expectations after she broke the European Hammer record four times in one two week period during 2004. The original record had stood since the Rome Deaflympics in 2001.

Her target had been Withrow's world record of 45.43m: "I am telling you now '” I aim high." But the unfavourable conditions were the discouraging factor.

See The Herald for more on the Deaflympic games.