Lizzy Yarnold created history by becoming the first Briton to successfully defend a Winter Olympics title – and then revealed how close she had come to pulling out of the Games because a virus that had laid her low for a week.

The 29-year-old Sochi 2014 champion trailed leader Janine Flock of Austria entering the fourth and final run, where she overhauled the deficit to win by 0.45 seconds. British team-mate Laura Deas claimed bronze by 0.02secs as Britain won two medals in the same event for the first time in Winter Olympics history.

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“After the first run yesterday I was almost at the point of pulling out,” said Yarnold. “My chest infection was stopping me from breathing. I just tried to get the second run down and then fight another day today. If it wasn’t for my physio Louise Turner telling me to go down again, I’m not sure I would be here.

“I was dizzy, I couldn’t breathe. I have no idea what happened. I’ve been ill for a week. It’s been a great week. We have the doctors, I have my physio Louise. Everyone is supporting me in helping people get here. Athletes are people too. Now I’m going to sleep for weeks. The emotions are gratitude to the whole team to get here, and relief, and exhaustion. And lots of crying.”

Yarnold trailed by 0.10sec overnight after complaining of being dizzy, but cut the deficit as overnight leader Jacqueline Loelling of Germany slipped back to third place after the third run.

The Briton trailed Flock by 0.02 ahead of the fourth and final run, meaning Yarnold was the penultimate slider to take to the track and had to watch her rival’s run. Yarnold clocked a track record of 51.46 to lead by a commanding fashion and Flock floundered, relinquishing her spot on the podium to spark jubilant celebrations among a sizeable British contingent at the Olympic Sliding Centre.

This video has been removed. This could be because it launched early, our rights have expired, there was a legal issue, or for another reason. Lizzy Yarnold gives Britain first gold of 2018 Winter Olympics – video

Added Yarnold: “I dreamt a couple of nights ago that we were both on the podium together, but I was too worried to tell her that I’d foreseen it. I’m just overwhelmed. When I had seen that she could potentially be in fourth, I just went and said: ‘Breathe deeply and just believe in yourself.’ I’m so happy. We will be on each other’s mantelpieces forever more.”

Deas paid tribute to Yarnold after moving up to take bronze after the final run. “I can’t believe I am part of a Super Saturday, I never thought I’d be saying that,” she enthused. “I’m just extremely proud to be part of an historic day.

“I have worked so hard for this for the past nine years. My family are freezing their socks off and I am so glad they can be part of it. Lizzy is such a phenomenal athlete, she is so consistent and she knows how to bring it when it matters.”

Lizzy Yarnold (@TheYarnold) I WON THE OLYMPICS, AGAIN!!!!! #HistoryMaker

Britain have now equalled their record Winter Games medal tally of four – and there are plenty of further opportunities to come. After Izzy Atkin’s earlier slopestyle bronze, Saturday was the first time Britain have won three Winter Olympic medals in the same day, overtaking the two won at Chamonix in 1924.

Only figure skaters Jeannette Altwegg and pair Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, who had one gold medal and one bronze each, also have multiple medals for Britain. And now Yarnold, who became Britain’s most decorated Winter Olympian, is in an exclusive club all of her own.