Friday’s Russian gold rush continued inside a vibrant Olympic Stadium as Mariya Savinova delivered a comprehensive knock out blow to her rivals to add the European outdoor title to her world and European indoor crowns.

Mariya Savinova of Russia won the women's 800 gold clocking an impressive 1:58.22.

Savinova unleashed a devastating burst of speed down the finishing straight to destroy the opposition and stop the clock in 1:58.22 with a complete performance.

But if the gold medal went to an expected source, the silver medallist proved a major surprise. Dutch champion Yvonne Hak ran the race of her life to lower her lifetime best by 0.35 and earn her country’s first medal in this event since Gerba Kraan struck gold in 1962.

The bronze was just reward for long-time leader Jenny Meadows, who held off a late charge from Slovakia’s Lucia Klocova to add another medal to her growing collection in 1:59.39.

For Savinova tonight’s victory on a balmy Spanish night was a premature 25th birthday present.

“This success is my birthday gift for August 13,” said the Russian. “I came here for victory and I won. Now it is time for sunbathing and swimming.”

An astonished Hak, 24, whose previous international track pedigree was limited to a semi-final place at the 2009 European Athletics Indoor Championships, said: “It was a big surprise for me. My goal was to reach the final. I felt very strong and knew that if I stuck to Meadows I can beat her in a sprint. It’s an amazing night.”

For Meadows, tonight’s bronze medal was rich reward after a difficult 2010.

“I am so happy with this bronze medal. I suffered from an injury in the middle of the season. I would have loved to have challenged Savinova, but due to the former injury it was impossible.”   

The penultimate final on a thrilling night of athletics was expected to be a battle between the Russian duo Savinova and Svetlana Kluyka and the British pair of Meadows and Jemma Simpson. Yet it was far from that clear cut, as Hak was to prove.

Surprisingly, it was Meadows who rushed to the head of the field to dictate the pace and she was quickly followed by the long-striding Hak with Savinova in close attendance. 

Down the home stretch on the opening lap, Kluyka accelerated to try and improve her midfield position but as she did so she appeared to clash with Simpson and the Briton was knocked slightly off her stride. At the front Meadows went through 400m in 59.17 from Hak, Kluyka, the Czech Lenka Masna and Savinova.

Down the back straight Meadows slowly accelerated and opened up a two-metre gap on Hak while Savinova started to make her move on the outside. The British athlete held an ever-diminishing advantage around the final bend with Savinova now poised to strike and the Dutch athlete tucked in behind.

Entering the home straight Savinova made her game breaking move. She kicked hard and decisively and once in full flow past she was never going to be denied.

A fading Meadows was also passed by Hak, who sprinted on strongly in the final 100m, raising her hands in the air as she crossed the line. The diminutive British athlete stuck gamely to her task down the home straight for bronze, although Klocova finished with a wet sail and had the race had been a few metres longer there is little doubt the Slovak would have clinched a place on the podium.

Simpson never really got involved in the race and finished a slightly disappointing fifth in 1:59.90 – 0.01 in front of sixth-placed Masna. Spain’s Mayte Martinez, the 2002 European silver medallist, was also never in contention, finishing seventh in 1:59.97 with Kluyka surprisingly fading to eighth in 2:00.15.