The 21-year-old won individual sprint gold on Saturday after overhauling Germany’s Kristina Vogel in a thrilling final having already won team sprint and 500m time trial bronze – and added to her haul by becoming the first British rider to win four medals at a single World Championships.

James led the keirin final from start to finish to stake her claim as British cycling’s successor to the recently-retired double Olympic gold medallist Victoria Pendleton.

“Oh my gosh. I can’t believe it. Wow. It’s going to take a good week for it to sink in, or two weeks, or a month,” said James.

“I just need someone to pinch me and tell me if it’s really happening to me. I feel like it’s a complete dream apart from the pain in my legs.”

Meanwhile, Laura Trott lost her world omnium title after finishing second behind America’s Sarah Hammer in the six-discipline event.

The Olympic champion started the day in the bronze medal position and jumped up a step on the podium but the 21-year-old was unable to overhaul Hammer.

“A better rider beat me on the day. What more can I do?” said Trott, whose 10th place finish in the omnium’s points race on Saturday effectively ended her chances of gold.

“After the points race, I am happy to come away with a medal, so to end up with silver I am super happy.”

Great Britain end the five-day championship top of the medal table with nine medals in total, of which five were gold, despite a young squad which included six World Championship debutants.