Tom James' parents say they are struggling to come to terms with the fact their son is an Olympic champion after his GB crew pulled off a stroke of genius on the Beijing rowing course.

On Saturday, the rower, who attended the Wrexham Road school in Chester and was brought up in Coedpoeth, near Wrexham, was part of Britain's men's coxless four taking gold.

Proud father Mike, a former army major, who watched the fours race unfold from the grandstand with wife Julia, said: "What an incredible race. They needed a huge finish to overtake the Aussies, but they found that seventh gear right at the end and that's when I lost my voice."

Mum Julia said she couldn't bear to look when the crew were trailing in the middle of the race.

"Then I looked up as they were coming past, and everyone was on their feet shouting and I could see they were going through," she recalled.

"I was shaking inside when they crossed that line in gold.

"It's a bit of a blur after that, but there were a few tears when he was standing on the podium, but I'm so proud, he's put so much into it."

"I was so proud to see my son win the second Welsh gold after Nicole Cooke and hopefully we can go and win a few more. It's great for Wales and GB.

"My twin brother David, who is also a Wrexham boy, texted me from Ireland within 10 seconds of Tom winning gold and said: 'Fantastic. I nearly had a heart attack'. And our daughter in El Salvador had a party at 4am as soon as we texted her.

"The expectation was high, because of the GB history with Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent in the boat, but also because it was the flagship here.

"For Tom to get in the boat is amazing in itself. And because the expectations were high, to see them trailing at halfway, I was finding it difficult to breathe and my wife had her head in her hands.

"I don't think she saw much of the race, but she's dying to see it now on TV.

"When the Aussies were in the lead, their supporters next to us were making a heck of a din. But when GB started coming through with 300m to go, we started drowning them out, shouting and stamping our feet on the floor.

"I think it's incredible. I can't believe it, they have worked so hard for it, and for GB to get 10 boats in the finals is amazing. It's oar-some!

"When he started rowing at school in Chester, he got into the first eight at 16 and said that was the quickest thing he'd ever rowed in.

"Well he keeps saying every new boat is the quickest, but you can't go much faster than Olympic champions - or perhaps he can...in London 2012!"

In Coedpoeth, landlord of the Golden Lion pub, Ian Evans, said Tom's victory had been the talk of the village over the weekend.

Speaking yesterday, he said: "There have been people just talking about it this afternoon. It's nice to have a local lad doing so well."

A pub regular, who did not wish to be named, added: "People are proud of him up here, obviously, even if he did spend much of his childhood away from the village."

Tom began rowing at the age of 13.

Vicky Titmuss, director of marketing at The King's School in Wrexham Road, said: "We are absolutely delighted.

"The head of rowing, Robert Parry, is over the moon.

"We feel like putting a banner outside the school to announce it. It's wonderful.

"He has worked so hard and to get the ultimate prize, we are absolutely delighted."

She added: "We have a really strong reputation for rowing and have had a number of winners over the years.

"I think the first thing the headteacher will do in September is invite him into the school."