Kelly Holmes has kept hopes of an Olympic medal double alive after easing into the semi-finals of the women’s 1500m on Tuesday night.

She claimed Britain’s first track gold of the Games in the 800m on Monday.

Holmes has said she will focus on the 1500m but plans to pretend she never won gold when she is back at the start line because, as she said: “I’ve got my dream – I have got my gold medal and no-one can take that away from me.”

Speaking to the BBC on Monday Paula Radcliffe said she had “let everyone down” after her bid for Olympic marathon gold ended in tears.