Russia's Natalia Ishchenko and Svetlana Romashina won duet Olympic gold with a stunning display in the synchronised swimming final, BBC News said.

The pair, who won gold in the team event in Beijing, led after the technical round on Monday, August 6 and totalled 197.100 after their freestyle routine.

Spain finished ahead of 2008 runners-up China in the battle for silver, whilst Great Britain were ninth.

The British duet scored 177.270 to finish ahead of France, USA and Korea in the 12-strong final.

The sport became part of the Olympic programme in 1984, but was dropped for the Atlanta Games in 1996.

It was reinstated four years later in Sydney, and a Russia pair has won the duet event in each Olympics since then.