Olympians get stamp of approval

New gold medal stamps are on sale today to celebrate the successes of Great Britain’s first gold medallists of the London 2012 Olympic Games: rowers Helen Glover and Heather Stanning, and cyclist Bradley Wiggins.

A fleet of 90 Royal Mail vehicles will deliver the gold medal stamps across the UK to more than 500 Post Offices, so that they’re ready to go on sale by lunchtime today – the first time in history Royal Mail has issued two next-day stamps in one day. An additional 4,700 post offices will receive them within the week.

As well as being the first British women to win an Olympic Rowing gold medal in Rowing, Helen and Heather’s victory in the women’s Pairs at Eton Dorney means they become the first all-female sports team to appear on a Royal Mail stamp.

Residents of Helen’s hometown of Penzance, Cornwall, will be able to buy the stamps in local Post Office branches, as well as in Reading where the pair live and train.

Bradley Wiggins’ gold medal triumph in the men’s Cycling Individual Time Trial final comes less than two weeks after he became the first ever British rider to triumph in the Tour de France.

Bradley’s stamps will be available at the Post Office on Cleveland Street in Bradley’s home town of Chorley. Royal Mail will also paint a post box gold to celebrate his win.