It might not have been the Olympic stadium during Team GB’s London 2012 super Saturday – but nonetheless, world record breaker Diana Norman was cheered to the rafters.

The Epsom & Ewell Harrier was completing the final event of the pentathlon at the David Weir Leisure Centre in Carshalton last week when the crowd stopped what they were doing to cheer her home.

Even the athletes on the infield put down their javelins to watch the 41-year-old in action.

They knew if Norman simply completed her 800m race, then she would break the W40 pentathlon world record that has stood for 15 years.

Fellow Brit Jenny Brown recorded 3,960 points in 2000, and Norman smashed it by scoring 4,249 over the 80m hurdles (12.53secs), shot (10.7m), high jump (1.64m), long jump (5.33m) and 800m (two minutes 18.66secs).

But it could have been very different, as she spent the day before competition curled up in bed with a stinking cold.

She said: “I was worried that I would not be able to compete and I went into the competition with a dull headache, sore throat and a snotty nose.

“My family and I had worked out that, on paper, I could break the record, but it just comes down to being able to get through all five events in such a short amount of time.

“As you get older you are more prone to injury, and my calf has a tendency to cramp up without warning.

“With each event I was beating what we knew was needed, and I knew by the time the 800m came around, if I completed it, I would break the record.”

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Flying the flag: Epsom & Ewell Harriers' Diana Norman

She added: “There is a commentator who gets the crowd going, and during the 800m someone told him I could break the record and he announced it.

“I did not hear it, but the last 600m were amazing because the whole crowd was cheering me on.

“They even stopped some of the events on the infield so they could cheer me.

“When I finished, everyone knew I’d done it and it was amazing.

“I was speechless – the commentator asked me if I wanted to say a few words, but I had just run 800m and I was ill, so I don’t know what I sounded like. But it was overwhelming and lovely.

“It was great that my family were there because they are so hugely supportive.

“They were telling me during the events ‘This is what you’ve got to do’ – so this is not all about me, their support is fantastic.”

Norman not only smashed the previous record, she firmly believes that she can better her points tally in the future.

It all comes down to performing on the day, and perhaps not having a filthy cold prior to competition?

Norman, who lives Coulsdon, said: “I can beat the record again – my shot was not as good as I’ve been throwing all season, my long jump could have been better and the 800m was five seconds down on my best, and that’s a lot of points.

“It all about putting it together on the day – Katarina Johnson-Thompson is a world class heptathlete and she missed her long jump at the World Championships, so it can happen to the best of us.”

Talking of World Championships, Norman has competed on the international stage, but has never quite reached the professional levels.

However, it was not for the want of trying and Norman came within two places at the English Championships of representing her country at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Despite that disappointment and an ever-aging body, Norman has no intention of hanging up her spikes just yet.

Norman, who started at Epsom & Ewell Harriers as an eight-year-old, said: “When I get injuries, my husband asks me if I ever think about quitting.

“I always say no. I will keep going until my body literally says no more.

“I have done my coaching qualifications, so when the day does come, I will still be involved in athletics.”