Gold Rush for GB
02/08/2012 -Team GB had one of their greatest days in Olympic history as they won three gold medals and three silvers in a fantastic day for the home nation. Tim Baillie and Etienne Stott won the day's first gold in the canoe slalom C2 event, shortly followed by Peter Wilson who came top in the double trap shooting.The day was rounded off when the men’s sprint cycling team broke the world record twice on their route to gold in the Velodrome.
The day’s results put Team GB up to fifth in the medals table behind China, USA, South Korea and France, which will renew hope that the home nation can match their Bejing total of 45 medals. Chris Hoy’s gold in the team cycling, his fifth of his career, puts him level with Steven Redgrave as the most decorated British Olympian of all time.
The first medal of the day came at Eton Dorney when Britain’s lightweight four won an unexpected silver. It was a thrilling race with the South African rowers beating them by just a quarter of a second. Team GB then won both gold and silver in the canoe slalom C2 event. The duo of Baillie and Stott, ranked sixth in the world, put in the best time 106.41 seconds. It was Britain’s first ever gold in the event. Baillie and Stott were closely followed by fellow Brits David Florence and Richard Hounslow who posted a time just 0.36 seconds slower, taking the Silver.
Less than five minutes after the canoeing victory, Britain had its second goal of the day when Peter Wilson won the double trap shooting event. The Dorset shooter finished two shots ahead of closest rival, Hakan Dahlby of Sweden. Team GB then picked up its third silver of the day in an unexpected result in the women’s -78kg Judo competition. Gemma Gibbons made her way to the final before losing out to Kayla Harrison of the USA. It was Britain’s first medal in Olympic judo since Sydney 2000.
In the late afternoon, the men’s sprint cycling team then took the days total to three gold medals when they beat the French team in the final. The team of Philip Hindes, Jason Kenny and Chris Hoy broke the world record twice on their way to their victory, posting a time of 42.600 in their final race. It was Hoy’s fifth gold over four Olympic Games, making him Britain’s joint most successful Olympian.
Friday also has many chances for Team GB to add to their medal tally. Rowers Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins compete in the women's double sculls. In the Velodrome there is the men's team pursuit and the women's keirin and swimmer Rebecca Adlington is aiming to retain her 800m title at the Aquatics Centre.
