Anna Watkins revealed that she felt sick at the start before setting an Olympic record with Katherine Grainger for Great Britain in winning their women’s double sculls heat at Eton Dorney Lake.

Watkins, a member of the Leander club at Henley, and Grainger, a three-time silver medallist at the Games, clocked 6mins 43.33secs to beat the previous mark of 6.49.00 set in 1992 – despite easing up at the end.

Watkins said: “I thought I was going to be sick on the start line, I was really nervous.

“I actually felt worse a couple of days ago, but coming up to the heat I felt calmer and calmer.

“It was so good to get under way and feel the roar of the crowd.

“We have been talking all winter about the home crowd and what it might be like.

“It was absolutely amazing. You get really emotional.

“The whole of the British public wants you to do well and you want to do well for them.

“It was like nothing I have ever experienced, the biggest high ever.”

The duo's record row came despite a cross wind affecting the crews.

Watkins, who will now row in the final on Friday, added: “We were really chuffed we could produce a good row in those conditions.”

The men’s eight, including Richard Egington, who lives in Henley, Matthew Langridge, cox Phelan Hill and Alex Partridge, all Leander, and Oxford University student Stan Louloudis, stormed to victory in their repechage.

They led all the way to cross the line in 5.26.85 and reasserted their medal potential ahead of tomorrow’s final.