Katie Taylor is a step closer to winning an Olympic gold medal - after blowing Britian's Natasha Jonas out of the water at the London games.

Ireland's biggest medal hope made a wining start to her glory bid at her first Olympics with a 26-15 win in the quarter-finals.

She is now guaranteed a bronze medal at least when she takes to the semi-final stage on Wednesday.

But the Bray girl has bigger fish in her sights after sending a message to all pretenders to her crown.

"I have waited all my life for this and nothing is going to stop me now," said Taylor as the Irish fans launched into another chorus of Ole, Ole, Ole.

Taylor is now red hot favourite for the gold medal and will meet surprise packet Mavzuna Chorieva from Tajikistan in Wednesday's semi ahead of the final on Thursday.

There was disappointment for Irish medal hopes earlier in the day when young sailor Annalise Murphy could only finish fourth and just outside the medals in the sailing.

Hurdler Derval O'Rourke advanced to the 100 metre semi-finals as one of the fastest losers from Monday's heats.