JohnBoy Smith, paralysed since being shot in the back as a teenager, won wheelchair marathon gold for England after David Weir punctured with the race at his mercy.
The Gravesend-born champion wept in the arms of his coach at the finish line, then admitted: “The better man didn't win. Dave got a flat, he had me. He deserves gold, I should have got silver.
"Your majesty the Queen, give David Weir a knighthood, make him Sir David Weir; that man deserves it."
Smith’s win completes a rags to riches recovery after his life was changed forever at the age of 16 by a bullet. Two men were later convicted.
When he left hospital he put in a call to Weir’s coach Jenny Archer who set him on a path which has led to glory - at the legend’s expense.
Weir led by more than 90 seconds with six miles to go before a left tyre blowout ruined his hopes.
Uganda's Victor Kiplangat won the men's marathon - despite going the wrong way on the course in Birmingham.
Netball ace Helen Housby came off the bench to help England's beat Malawi 66-41 and notch their second win in two days.
The matchwinner in the gold medal defeat of Australia four years ago sat out the first half.
And while she played the third and fourth quarters, scoring with 14 of her 18 shots on goal, it might not be enough to unseat Goal Attack rival Eleanor Cardwell.
In her first Commonwealth Games start the 27-year old missed only two of 33 goal attempts and England lost their way when she was subbed off in the third quarter.
Cardwell, 27, thanked the home crowd for helping them through, saying: “It’s amazing to play in front of them, they are super loud.
“It feels like you’ve got the support every step of the way, no matter if you are on a high in the game or having a little rocky patch.”
England, who beat Trinidad and Tobago 74-22 in their opener, play Northern Ireland tomorrow. Perennial favourites Australia continued their unbeaten start, beating Scotland 83-30.
Hockey star Hannah Martin returned to her old university to bag a hat-trick as England walloped Ghana 12-0.
On the pitch where she played as a student Martin joined Grace Balsdon in scoring three times against outclassed opponents.
"The last time I played on these pitches in a Uni match, they looked a bit different,” said the 27-year old.
“To step out here in front a home crowd gave me goosebumps. It’s my first international hat-trick so I’m quite happy with that.”
Martin scored four goals in Britain’s run to Olympic bronze last summer, just four months after suffering a broken leg and ankle ligament damage.
She will hope for another medal here though there are far tougher tests to come. Ghana did not have a shot, while England scored from eight of their 18 short corners.
