Summary:
- On Wednesday night, the men’s team pursuit won silver, marking Team GB’s 1000th Olympic medal in the modern era.
- In the women’s team pursuit, GB took bronze.
- Matthew Hudson-Smith won the third medal of Day 12 in the 400m final.
Team GB has raised its toll to 49 medals and counting. The team finished Day 12 of the Paris Olympics with three new podium-worthy accomplishments, reaching the 1000th medal in the history of the Summer and Winter Olympics in the modern era.
Silver in Men’s Team Pursuit, Bronze in Women’s Team Pursuit
A dramatic men’s team pursuit final saw Team GB’s Ethan Hayter, Ollie Wood, Dan Bigham and Ethan Vernon narrowly defeated by Australia’s golden boys.
The quartet lost in the final lap when Hayter had trouble controlling his bike and lost control of his bike and gave the Aussies a 2.327-second advantage, despite the two teams being separated by less than three-tenths throughout the 4km race.
Hayter, who will also participate in the omnium and madison event, commented in an interview for BBC that the team was “so close” that he could see the victory, explaining that, unfortunately, he “gave too much” into the last five laps and had trouble holding himself on the bike because of the effort.
I’m sorry to these guys, but I think we gave everything and we can be proud of that silver medal
Team GB have won medals at six of the past seven Games in this sport, and the latest achievement shows their return to form.
Elinor Barker, Josie Knight, Anna Morris and Jessica Roberts came strong from behind and defeated the Italians for bronze after almost missing out on a place in the ride-off earlier in the day after they were edged out by the USA, who won gold from New Zealand.
Despite Italy’s team being 1.3 seconds ahead of GB before the last five laps, they were eventually pulled back and lost by 2.579 seconds.
The medal is the fourth consecutive one for Team GB in the women’s team pursuit after gold in London 2012, Rio 2016, and silver at Tokyo Games.
Hudson-Smith Sets New European Record
Matthew Hudson-Smith set a fresh European record in the men’s 400m final but was pipped at the post by American Quincy Hall by four-hundredths of a second in yet another dramatic photo finish.
On Tuesday evening, Josh Kerr won silver in the men’s 1500m final after being defeated by American Cole Hocker.
Last night was the second night in a row when the Stade de France witnessed a British athlete trying to grab gold only to have it ripped away by a charging US athlete, as Hall followed in Hocker’s footsteps, across the line and halfway round the top bend to ring the bell announcing victory.
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