Day Eleven Olympics Round-Up: Thompson-Herah Wins Double-Double And More GB Joy

The 100m champion won the 200m in a blistering time while GB won loads of medals on 'Terrific Tuesday'
16:35, 03 Aug 2021

An astonishing day of Olympic action unfolded in the Japanese capital as there were more golds for Team GB, a 400m hurdles world record and a successful return to action for Simone Biles. Here is how day 11 panned out in Tokyo. 

Jason Kenny becomes the most successful GB Olympian

Cycling great Jason Kenny won his eighth Olympic medal for Team GB with silver in the team sprint which makes him the most successful British Olympian of all time. He moves level with Sir Bradley Wiggins for the most Olympic medals while he and Sir Chris Hoy share the record for gold, which surely means a knighthood will be on the way.

This came after he watched his wife Laura take silver in the women’s team pursuit as both the men and women failed to hold onto their Olympic titles, losing to Germany and the Netherlands respectively. It was a day of ups and downs in the velodrome as Team GB’s men targeted a fourth successive team pursuit title but a huge crash in their heat with Denmark ended their hopes of a medal. 

 

Sailing success brings GB joy

Team GB have always enjoyed success in sailing at the Olympics and this year was no different after a flurry of medals came in this morning. Giles Scott successfully defended his Finn title after Dylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell won the men's 49er, while John Gimson and Anna Burnet secured silver in the mixed Nacra 17 class.

Scott’s race was the most dramatic as it looked as if he had fallen out of gold medal contention, before a late charge saw him secure fourth, when he needed to finish in the top five to secure gold. Great Britain have now won 13 golds and lie fifth in the medal table at the end of play.

GilesScottjpg

Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah makes it a double-double

100m champion Elaine Thompson-Herah made it a double in Tokyo by recording the second fastest 200m of all time on her way to gold. A run of 21.53 was enough to win ahead of Namibia’s Christine Mboma, but it also means that the Jamaican has now won a double-double and defended both of the Olympic titles she won in Rio. If anyone is going to break Florence Griffith Joyner’s long-standng world records, it is going to be the fastest woman alive.

Untouchable Warholm obliterates own world record

Karsten Warholm obliterated the world record to take gold in the most talented 400m hurdles final we have ever seen. He ran an unbelievable 45.94 seconds to take 0.76 of a second off his own world record, but he was pushed all the way by American Rai Benjamin, who broke the old world record but was heavily criticised by the champion for wearing Nike’s controversial super spikes. 

Hodgkinson sets British record to win silver in 800m

19-year-old Keely Hodgkinson broke Kelly Holmes' British record set in 1995 by recording a personal best in the final to take silver. She began alongside fellow Brits Jemma Reekie and Alex Bell and it was Reekie who almost secured bronze, before fading in the final few metres.

KeelyHodkinsonjpg

All three Brits ran personal bests however in a thrilling final that saw American teenager Athing Mu take gold. With two 19-year-olds on the top two steps of the podium, things are looking bright for the future of middle distance running. 

Pat McCormack wins boxing silver and looks to turn pro

Team GB’s Pat McCormack won a silver medal after losing a close men's welterweight contest to Cuba's Roniel Iglesias in Tokyo. In a unanimous points decision, Iglesias won his third Olympic medal agains the number one seed and at 32, is one of the most experienced amatuers in the world. 

McCormack said after the defeat he is “ready for the professional ranks.”

Simone Biles returns with a bronze

One of the feel-good stories of the day came in the beam final as USA’s Simone Biles returned after her short break saw her prioritise her mental health. She returned to win a bronze medal to add to her collection to the delight of those in the arena. 

China's Guan Chenchen won gold ahead of compatriot Tang Xijing, but it was the bronze medal winner who received the biggest cheer. "I didn't expect a medal today, I just wanted to go out there for me and that's what I did." Biles said. "I was proud of myself just to go out there after what I've been through."

There was also late drama in the men’s football semi-finals, which you can read about here

x
Suggested Searches:
The Sportsman
Manchester United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Premier League
Sportsman HQ
72-76 Cross St
Manchester M2 4JG
We will not ask you to provide any personal information when using The Sportsman website. You may see advertisement banners on the site, and if you choose to visit those websites, you will accept the terms and conditions and privacy policy applicable to those websites. The link below directs you to our Group Privacy Policy, and our Data Protection Officer can be contacted by email at: [email protected]

All original material is Copyright © 2019 by The Sportsman Communications Ltd.
Other material is copyright their respective owners.