Serena Williams is GOLDEN! Well, not literally, but she has dominated the field at the London Olympics, securing the individual gold in tennis for the United States.

Serena clinched the women’s singles final and beat Maria Sharapova 6-0, 6-1. The victory won her the third Olympic gold medal of her career to follow her doubles successes in Sydney in 2000 and Beijing in 2008.

Serena was elated after winning her first individual medal in front of her proud mother, sister Venus — who she will compete with in doubles championship tomorrow — and the London crowd, dancing (crip-walking) in a manner that gave respect to her Los Angeles roots (I’m such a homer!).

When asked if there is a difference between winning a gold medal for the USA and winning a major tournament, like Wimbledon, which she just won for the fifth time a few weeks back, holding back tears, Serena replied:

It awesome winning Wimbledon … I think it is the best feeling in the world and now winning the gold medal, I didn’t think it could get better, but you see how happy I am.”

Serena has been in impressive form at Wimbledon and faced Sharapova on the back of another ruthless 6-1, 6-2 semi-final win over the top seed Victoria Azarenka. She duly romped through the first set of the final too and it wasn’t until midway through the second set that Sharapova offered any form of resistance as she won her first game at the tenth time of asking.