It's the kite stuff!

Golden girl Ellie wins after gorging on beer and ice cream | Cycling prodigy Emma nets bronze & KJT leads heptathlon

- JEREMY ARMSTRONG

GREAT Britain's Ellie Aldridge wept tears of joy as she sailed to gold yesterday, with a little help from beer and ice cream.

The 27-year-old became the inaugural Olympic kitesurfing champion as Britannia ruled the waves. It was our 13th gold medal so far.

And she won in an event where it is an advantage to weigh more as you are dragged through the water. So she cut down on exercise and enjoyed a few beers and ice cream to go from 9st 6lb to 11st.

Following in the footsteps of her parents and grandparents, Ellie remembered being "dragged" on to a boat at her local sailing club, Parkstone YC, in Poole, Dorset, at the age of seven by her mother.

The boat capsized. But it did not put her off, and she celebrated gold by jumping into sea at Marseille arena.

Afterwards she said: "I still can't believe it, really it's crazy.

"I just about managed to get in front and stay in front in both races."