BOLTON'S Jason Kenny won a British record-equalling sixth Olympic gold medal last night night with victory in a controversial Keirin final in Rio.

The 'Farnworth Flyer' drew level with Sir Chris Hoy on half a dozen golds with a third from this Olympics to add to the one he won in Beijing in 2008 and the two he scooped four years ago in London.

But it could have been heartbreak after a first running of the final was halted when riders were adjudged to have broken the rules by overtaking the pace-setting bike before it left the track.

It looked like Kenny may have been in danger of disqualification but after long deliberations, the full complement of riders were allowed to race again.

Then in the re-run, the same offence saw Germany's reigning world champion Joachim Eilers close to being thrown out but he also escaped punishment.

And a relieved Kenny made no mistake third time around.

With a silver in Beijing as well, Kenny has seven Olympic medals now - his other golds in Brazil coming in the Team Sprint and Individual Sprints at the velodrome.

And it was a night of double celebration for the 28-year-old after his fiancee Laura Trott won her fourth Olympic gold in the Omnium - becoming the first British woman to win four golds in the process.

The latest victories sweep the engaged couple's gold medal tally into double figures - with the pair now able to boast 10 between them.

Kenny had coasted to tonight's final with first-place finishes in both rounds one and two.

And he was imperious in the third running of the final, coming from third place with two laps to go to pip his rivals on the line.

Speaking to the BBC following his win, Kenny said: "Today just felt like a dream really, I think I'm just kind of so tired I'm just floating through it. So yeah, I really enjoyed today."

He said it was "pretty mental" to have equalled Sir Chris' medal haul, adding that the 10 golds he and his fiance have amassed between them was "not bad".

"I was there in Beijing obviously when Chris won his three, and I knew at the time it was special, and then as the years have gone by I appreciated even more how special those Olympics were and how amazing Chris was then.

"So yeah, to come here and to do the same is amazing."

'Extra special' permanent tribute planned to mark Jason Kenny's Olympic achievements

Sir Chris stood up and applauded Kenny's triumph, branding it a "special moment" during his BBC commentary.

He said: "When he came on the team just before Beijing back in 2008 we knew we had a very special addition to the team.

"But even with all the talent and potential that he had, I don't think we realised just how special this man was going to be.

"Phenomenal performance tonight, phenomenal performance all week - just amazing."

Genuinely delighted, Sir Chris added that Kenny "is a friend and you want to see your friends do well".

"He deserves this, he has earned it, he has worked hard."