The 22-year-old (pictured top) from Lancashire, who took bronze at the World Championships earlier this year, began the final run/shoot event at Greenwich Park in fourth place, but after a superb display finished on the podium alongside gold medallist Laura Asadauskaite of Lithuania and bronze medallist Yane Marques of Brazil.

The silver means Britain have won a medal at four successive Olympics since the women's version of the sport was added to the Olympic programme at Sydney 2000.

"I had a lot to make up on the run, I needed that," said Murray.

"I've made a few mistakes today which set me back but I came through in the end.

"I'm just so pleased my legs kept running for me.

Samantha Murray riding Glen Gold competes during the show jumping at the London 2012 women's modern pentathlon

"Up the hills was so steep and I just kept working hard.

"Four years ago I was doing my A-levels at school, I'd started pentathlon but I was by no means performing on an international level.

"Since then I've come through the ranks, won some medals along the way and made it to the Olympic Games."

Murray had two fences down in the show jumping – having recovered well from a miserable start in the morning's fencing – and then produced the coolest of run-shoot performances to secure a medal.

Britain finishes third on the medal table, behind runners-up China and victors the United States, with 29 golds, 17 silvers and 19 bronzes.

Silver medallist Samantha Murray (left) from Britain with gold medallist Laura Asadauskaite of Lithuania (centre) and bronze medallist Yane Marques of Brazil (right) 

It means that, trading places with Russia, they improve on their fourth-place finish at Beijing 2008.

"I truly believe this has been our greatest performance, our greatest team, at what probably will be considered the greatest Olympic Games in history," said Team GB Chef de Mission Andy Hunt.

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