Olympic rowing gold medal duo in Royal Mail stamp first

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British Olympic gold medal winners Helen Glover and Heather Stanning are to be celebrated in a commemorative stamp that Royal Mail will print overnight and rush out tomorrow.

The speed at which the commemorative stamp will be issued, just 24 hours after today’s gold medal win in the Women’s Pairs rowing final at Eton Dorney, is a first for Royal Mail.

A fleet of 90 Royal Mail vehicles will deliver the stamps across the UK to over 500 Post Offices to be on sale by lunchtime tomorrow.

Royal Mail will also paint red post boxes gold in Glover’s and Stanning’s respective hometowns of Penzance, Cornwall and Lossiemouth, Moray to celebrate their gold medal win.

The stamps are the first in a Royal Mail series that will celebrate Team GB’s achievements.

Olympic rowing gold medal duo Helen Glover and Heather Stanning in Royal Mail stamp first

Immediately after Glover’s and Stanning’s win, Getty Images submitted a selection of photographs of the gold medal winning-moment to the eight-strong Royal Mail design team.

Royal Mail reviewed all the images sent, choosing the best one, cropped and positioned it within the templated design of a six-stamp miniature sheet.

Moya Greene, Royal Mail chief executive, said: 'We’re delighted to be issuing these very special Gold Medal stamps to recognise our Olympic champion UK athletes.

'This is a first for Royal Mail and we are proud to play our part in celebrating the many victories this summer.'

Glover and Stanning, an army captain, ended Team GB's gold medal drought with their win, leading the 2km race from start to finish.

Neither of the rowers have brand sponsors and instead are Lottery funded through UK Sport.

Both are graduates of the Team GB 'Start' programme, sponsored by Siemens.