David Florence became the first Scot to win a medal at the Beijing Olympics yesterday, as he took silver in the canoe slalom.

His Edinburgh-based parents said last night they were delighted by his win - and revealed he had recently applied to be an astronaut.

The 26-year-old said: "This really is a dream come true. It's been a long, long time coming and means everything to me."

George Florence, a former Scottish champion, and David's mother Jill were cheering him on from the stands in China. The family were planning a double celebration tonight, for the silver medal and for David's birthday which fell on August 8, the day of the opening ceremony.

His mother said: "That date is supposed to be very lucky in Chinese and it was. We are going to have a big celebration."

Celebrations were also held at David's home club in Edinburgh, in Nottingham where he studied and now lives and in Beijing as his win sank in.

Kelso Riddell, commodore at the club he attends in Edinburgh, said: "Everybody at Forth Canoe Club is absolutely ecstatic."

Meanwhile, Scotland Secretary Des Browne has written to David to congratulate him for his "tremendous achievement".