Day Eight Olympics Round-Up: Relay Gold For Team GB Despite Dina Heartbreak

There was more success for Britain on Saturday in the pool and beyond
16:33, 31 Jul 2021

Team GB enjoyed more success on day eight of Tokyo 2020 as further history has been made in these historic Games. But while there has been jubilation, there has also been heartbreak. Here is a round-up of today’s highlights…

Jonny Brownlee finally gets an Olympic gold

Triathlon star Jonny Brownlee got his hands on Olympic gold in the inaugural triathlon mixed relay alongside Jessica Learmonth, Georgia Taylor-Brown and Alex Yee. The fearsome foursome performed incredibly to claim Britain’s third triathlon medal of the week. It was a poetic moment for 31-year-old Brownlee, who had so far only had bronze and silver Olympic medals to his name from London 2012 and Rio 2016 respectively.

All four of the athletes played their part brilliantly to win the gold in this exciting new event, taking the title in style by finishing 14 seconds ahead of second-placed USA as France picked up the bronze.

More superb swimming

Team GB experienced more success in the pool in another new event added to the Tokyo Games as they took gold in the 4x100m mixed medley relay, and in world-record time too. The quartet of Kathleen Dawson, Adam Peaty, James Guy and Anna Hopkin achieved the stunning victory in a time of three minutes 37.58 seconds.

There had to be something in the water because it has become Britain’s arena so far at this Olympics. They have now claimed four gold medals in the pool, which is their best total since way back in 1908.

EmmaWilsonWindsurfingTokyo2020jpg

Wilson claims windsurfing bronze

Emma Wilson took bronze on her Olympic debut in the women’s windsurfing event after knowing she was guaranteed a medal heading into the final leg having won four of her 12 races in the week. The last leg was tense and full of excitement, and Wilson tried her hardest to get a gap between herself and China’s Lu Yunxiu to take the silver but the Chinese star went on to take the gold. France’s Charline Picon, the Rio 2016 champion, won the race to take the silver medal.

The trio celebrated by jumping in the water together, raising their arms in jubilation. Wilson will have made her mother Penny proud, since she was also a windsurfer who became world champion in 1986, 1990 and 1991 as well as competing in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games.

Thompson-Herah smashes 100m final as Asher-Smith is denied by injury

Jamaican sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah ran the 100m final in a staggering 10.61 seconds, becoming the second-fastest woman in history and beating compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to retain her Olympic title. Her time was just 0.12 seconds short of the 1988 world record time set by USA’s Florence Griffith-Joyner.

Dina Asher-Smith, who claimed silver in the Doha World Championships two years ago, failed to reach the final, revealed afterwards that a hamstring injury she had been carrying into the tournament was behind her below-par display. In an interview which captured her emotion and disappointment, she revealed to the BBC that she would be pulling out of the 200m, an event which she was a favourite for. There is no doubt the Team GB star will bounce back and everyone will look forward to her return to the top once she recovers from her injury.

Fellow Brit Daryll Neita qualified for the final of the 100m but she went on to finish eighth.

Boxing bonus

Great Britain’s Karriss Artingstall claimed Olympic bronze following a narrow defeat to Japan’s Sena Irie. The 26-year-old featherweight secured a medal for herself by reaching the women’s semi-finals on Tuesday. Irie edged a 3-2 split decision which denied the Brit a chance to battle for the gold.

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