Joe McConnell
Britain’s gold medal tally at the Paris Olympics rises to nine after rowers Emily Craig and Imogen Grant triumphed, followed by Bryony Page’s wins in the women’s trampolining and team horse jumping.
Craig and Grant dominated the women’s lightweight double sculls, winning in 6:47.06, more than a second ahead of Romania (6:48.78) and Greece (6:49.28) in third.
The British pair are undefeated in the event since finishing fourth in Tokyo three years ago, missing out on an Olympic medal by 0.01 seconds.
Trampoline gymnast Page won her first Olympic gold, following silver in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and bronze in Tokyo five years later, beating neutral athlete Viyaleta Bardzilouskaya and Canadian Sophiane Methot with a score of 56.480.
Page’s victory was confirmed when the last athlete to take the field, China’s Hu Yicheng, bounced off the springboard.
Ben Maher, Scott Brash and Harry Charles then won gold in the team vault final, recording just two penalties (one each for Maher and Brash, while Charles produced a flawless run), eclipsing the USA and France.
Maher won individual gold in Tokyo three years ago, while both he and Brash were part of the team that took gold in 2012, as was Charles’ father, Peter.
Men’s rowers take silver after being beaten by Croatia in the final
Elsewhere, rowers Ollie Wynne-Griffith and Tom George took silver in the men’s double sculls, taking Britain’s medal haul at these Games to six (two gold, two silver, two bronze), while divers Jack Laugher and Anthony Harding took bronze in the men’s 3m synchronised sculls.
Wynne-Griffith and George, who were part of the Great Britain men’s eight that won bronze in Tokyo in 2021, were eventually overtaken by Croatian brothers Valent and Martin Sinkovic, after leading for most of the race.
Team GB finished less than half a second off Croatia’s winning time of 6:23.66, while Switzerland took bronze.
George said: “I don’t think I’d want to watch that race again, it was so close! We had a fantastic race, exactly what we said we were going to do and we’re proud of what we achieved. These things happen.
“We came in as favorites. All season, every time we won, we remembered that we were going to be hunted and we tried to do well and we did it, just three shots away. I’m proud.”
Wynne-Griffith added: “I made a mistake on the line and this is the race for you. [but] Olympic silver medalists: I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished. I can’t fault the passion and grit. I’ve enjoyed the journey.”
British Divers’ Success Continues in Paris
Meanwhile, Laugher secured the fourth Olympic diving medal of his career, as his and Harding’s score of 438.15 was good enough for third place, behind China (446.10) and Mexico (444.03).
Laugher had won gold in the 3m synchro in Rio with Chris Mears, as well as individual medals in the 3m springboard in Rio (silver) and Tokyo (bronze).
Great Britain won four diving medals in Paris, with Scarlett Mew Jensen and Yasmin Harper starting their success by taking bronze in the women’s 3m synchronised springboard on the opening day.
Tom Daley and Noah Williams took silver in the men’s 10m synchronized platform, while Andrea Spendolini-Sireiex and Louis Toulson took bronze in the women’s event.
Laugher said: “We did fantastically, four medals in four synchronized events is unreal. What we achieved as a team is amazing. That first medal put us in a good position to continue.
“We really wanted to make it four out of four. We knew we could do it, so it’s a really wonderful day and one to cherish forever.”
Wilson will have to wait to aim for gold in windsurfing
Windsurfer Emma Wilson’s attempt to become Britain’s first Olympic champion in her discipline has been postponed until Saturday due to light winds in Marseille.
The 25-year-old secured a medal after winning eight of 14 qualifying races; conditions are expected to improve on Saturday for the three-way final.
Wilson won the bronze medal at Tokyo 2020.
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