After the bronze medal success of Tom Daley and Dan Goodfellow in the men’s 10metre platform synchro on Monday, Jack Laugher and Chris Mears took Britain’s first ever gold in diving – synchronised 3m springboard.
The duo, who live together in Leeds, took first spot ahead of the Chinese pair Qin Kai and Cao Yuan and USA’s Sam Dorman and Mike Hixon.
Laugher in his second Olympic games said afterwards “this is the big one. To do it alongside my best friend it is beyond worth it. It is my absolute dream.”
On the same day, Joe Clarke doubled the gold medal dream, by winning the Kayak K1. The 23-year-old came into the final third fastest in qualifying but a time of 88.53 seconds enabled him to seal top spot in this class.
“Everything pieced together so nicely, I can’t put it into words. I knew I was capable, but to put down that run in the Olympic final… it is a dream come true. It is hard to put it into words how much work has gone into this. I have spent a lot of time here, I know this course like the back of my hand and it has paid off” said Clarke.
He added “There has been lots of ups and downs, but it is just fantastic. When I woke up, I struggled to have breakfast I was so nervous with all the emotions. I thought if it goes to plan I could come away with a medal, but to be Olympic champion… it is something you dream about.”
This was followed up with more drama the following day, when David Florence and Richard Hounslow winning silver in the Canoe C2 double, exactly the same medal they received in London in 2012.
In Judo, Sally Conway, took the bronze medal in the 70kg category when she defeated Austria’s Bernadette Graf.
The 29-year-old, who also took bronze for Scotland in the Commonwealth Games in 2014 took out Graf with a single yuko to take the bronze medal in Rio.
Afterwards she said “It hasn’t sunk in. I knew if I was going to come away with a medal I would have to put in my best performances. I’m not from Brazil but the crowd have been awesome. I just want to thank everyone.”
Disappointment in the Gymnastics with both men and women team events finishing outside the medals, didn’t let that affect gymnast Max Whitlock.
The bronze medal in the all-around programme is Britain’s first in 108 years. Whitlock who took two bronze medals in London 2012 was delighted with his performance four years on.
Disappointment in the Gymnastics with both men and women team events finishing outside the medals, didn’t let that affect gymnast Max Whitlock.
The bronze medal in the all-around programme is Britain’s first in 108 years. Whitlock who took two bronze medals in London 2012 was delighted with his performance 4 years on.
“My coach and I have been working so hard over the past four years,” said Whitlock. “We stepped out of London 2012 and I wanted to prove myself as an all-rounder and I’ve done that. I feel I’ve completed that target now,” Whitlock said.
Over in the shooting, Britain took two more medals. Ed Ling, a farmer from Taunton, managed to take the bronze medal in the men’s trap. He beat Czech David Kostelecky 13-9 to take a podium spot and claim a medal.
This was followed by Steven Scott who secured bronze in the double trap. He beat fellow Brit Tim Kneale. “I can’t describe what this means, but i’ve worked my butt off,” said Scott.
