Usain Bolt wins gold: I'm so proud of my little cousin the Rio Olympics star, says Wolverhampton mother-of-three Maureen

But unlike the rest, she had a special connection to the fastest man in the world. He is her second cousin, which made his triumph all the sweeter.

The Wolverhampton mother-of-three who will be cheering him on again today in the 200m event and on Thursday in the 4 x 100m relay, said: "I'm delighted and very proud."

Mrs Davis, who last met up with her famous relative when he competed at the London Games four years ago, got up to watch the race which was screened at 2.30am British time.

"I'd gone to bed but got up, made myself a hot drink and settled down to watch it. I knew he would win even though he had a slow start. He always starts like that because of his height, but he always come back.

"I knew he would win. I think he would have liked to have set the world record but there wasn't enough time for him to recuperate between the semi-final and the final.

"It was good to see him though, and I'm sure he'll win all his other races and bow out of the Olympics in a blaze of glory."

The family, including husband Bob, and sons George, 31, and James, 28, have unfurled the Jamaican flag and donned the Caribbean national colours for the big athletics week in Brazil.

But her daughter has gone one better - and is actually in Rio where she has met up with the Usain's mother Jennifer.

Maureen, 64, was unaware Erica, was at the Games until the weekend.

She said: "I only just found out. Erica lives in Australia so I don't see her but she put photographs on Facebook of Usain's mum in the crowd with a mascot he gave her."

She said none of the family had inherited her cousin's running genes.

"I can't stand athletics and Erica lost every race she ever ran on sports days at The Royal School - except one, which I missed because I'd locked myself out of the house."

And her link to athletic royalty is still largely unknown by her neighbours in Bradmore. The Jamaican-born former nurse, who has lived in Wolverhampton for 40 years, had retired from nursing before Usain came to the world's attention.

"He first came to the attention of the public in 2007 when he won silver at the World Championships, and it was the following year that he broke records at the Beijing Olympics and then everyone knew his name. But I had retired by then."

Maureen has met up with her cousin on his trips to the UK to take part in major events - in Manchester in 2009 and London in 2012 - and says the jovial giant is a just as much a showman behind the scenes as he is when the cameras are on him.

"He's funny, always upbeat and joking, exactly the same as when you see him on television. He's very family-orientated, he likes being around his family."

Maureen hosted a celebration party in 2008 when Usain's mother stayed at the Davis home in Wolverhampton during the Beijing Games. Jennifer told the Express & Star that her 6ft 5in son, unusually tall for a sprinter, was a nine and a half pound baby with a big appetite and has never followed a special diet. He reportedly tucked into chicken nuggets before the 200m event.

Maureen hopes to be reunited with the history-maker when he returns to the UK for next year's World Championships, expected to be his last major title challenge.

And after that, he knows - certainly not Maureen. The Olympic icon is a talented cricketer and huge Manchester United fan, and also has several business interests.

"Whatever he does, he will do well, he definitely deserves to," she said.