London 2012

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The stars of Britain’s greatest ever summer of sport will parade through London on Monday afternoon, allowing us to say our collective thank yous for sending the nation into a feel-good, flag-waving frenzy winning 29 gold medals got us so frenzied, in fact, that we tracked down those responsible for that golden tally. And over the next 40 pages, you can read their memories of an Olympics that will take some beating – starting with the man who electrified the Olympic Stadium two times over.

Mo Farah: Athletics - 5,000m and 10,000m

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Athletics: Heptathlon

Britain’s golden girl got her bid for heptathlon gold off to a flying start in the hurdles and didn’t look back, finishing the job in style on a golden Saturday night in the Olympic Stadium.

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Athletics: Long jump

Rutherford kept his red head ice-cool on a night when the temperature in the Olympic Stadium just kept on rising. He took the lead with a second-round leap of 8.21m, and extended that by 10cm with his fourth-round jump to secure an unexpected gold.

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Tennis: Men’s singles

Britain’s number one took gold in the men’s singles, dispatching Novak Djokovic in the semi finals before dismantling Roger Federer in straight sets. He added a silver in the mixed doubles, with Laura Robson, shortly after.

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Cycling: Team sprint and keirin

After having won gold alongside Jason Kenny and Philip Hindes in the team sprint five days earlier, Hoy showed exactly why he’s the most successful British Olympian of all time in the keirin, fighting off Germany’s Maximilian Levy to win his sixth Olympic gold medal.

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Cycling: Team pursuit and omnium

Three days after winning team pursuit gold, Trott was in silver- medal position going into the omnium’s sixth and final event, needing to beat her nearest rival by three places in the 500m time trial to win gold.

“I was always dreaming that I’d do the double of the team pursuit and omnium because I did it at the World Championships. But, I mean, I still surprised myself a bit.

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Cycling: Time trial

After clocking in at the first checkpoint five seconds off the lead pace set by Germany’s Tony Martin, Wiggins stepped on the gas and rocketed to the finish line in a winning time of 50 minutes 39 seconds. He was first to the bar, too – naturally.

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Cycling: keirin

Queen Vic started her final competitive meet with team sprint relegation alongside Jess Varnish, but recovered to take keirin gold before failing to defend her individual sprint title after a controversial relegation in the final against long-time rival Anna Meares.

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Rowing: Women’s pair

The history-making pair won Team GB’s long-awaited first gold medal of the Games, which also happened to be the first Olympic gold ever won by Britain’s female rowers. Not bad for a duo who, two years ago, were in the reserves.

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Rowing: Women's double sculls

Fewer athletes have come so close, so often at the Olympics than three-time silver-medallist Katherine Grainger. But alongside partner Anna Watkins, the 36-year-old finally got what she wanted in London, overpowering the Australians to be a bridesmaid no more.