After 20 years Rhona Martin sent down her “Stone of Destiny” at the Salt Lake City Games to win gold, Eve Muirhead emulated her compatriot’s success by leading Britain to glory in Beijing in a contest they dominated from the start.

Muirhead effectively sealed the result in the seventh end after sending Japan’s sole red rock flying to score four, and her shot received thunderous applause from the men’s team who won silver after losing to Sweden on Saturday.

Fujisawa’s Japan improved on their third-placed finish from Pyeongchang, having beaten Muirhead and Britain in the bronze medal match four years ago.

Muirhead, who also fell short in the 2014 semifinal in Sochi, finally got her hands on Olympic gold on her fourth attempt with Games debutants Jennifer Dodds, Hailey Duff and Vicky Wright.

On Saturday, Sweden beat Switzerland 9-7 to win bronze and cap a fine day for their country, after the men’s team had won their first gold medal earlier in the day.