Team GB win SIXTH gold medal at Olympics 2024 as women’s quadruple sculls stun opponents with epic comeback
TEAM GB have continued to show their rowing excellence after winning a gold with a stunning photo finish in the women’s quadruple sculls final.
The four-woman team raced to victory as Netherlands and Germany bagged silver and bronze.
Team GB had a photo finish with the Netherlands
But they won gold by a whisker
GettyIt was Team GB’s 71st medal in Olympic rowing history[/caption]
Dutch team slapped the water in frustration after narrowly missing out
They trailed the Dutch team for much of the race before they made a stunning sprint in the final stretch.
It also means Lauren Henry, Hannah Scott, Lola Anderson and Georgina Brayshaw bagged Team GB‘s SIXTH gold medal of the Paris games.
And it came just 15 minutes after Alex Yee took top spot in the men’s triathlon for GB’s fifth gold medal in his own thrilling last-gasp dash to the line.
The quartet were the fastest qualifiers and came to Paris as world and European champions.
They seemed certain to miss out on Olympic glory as they were behind the Dutch quartet until literally inches from the line.
Holland were half a length clear with barely 100m to go, after dominating the race from the front.
But out of nowhere, the Brits finished like an absolute locomotive, finding something deep within themselves.
Even with just one marker buoy left, the Dutch were a nose up.
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However, their late burst saw them snatch the gold by just 0.15 seconds.
Henry, Scott, Anderson and Brayshaw raised their arms in triumph as their victory was confirmed.
Speaking after the final, Anderson broke down in tears on the BBC as she revealed a note her father, Don, had given her before he died of cancer.
The note was a diary entry she had thrown away as a child which said her dream was to win an Olympic rowing gold, but Don had kept it.
A tearful Anderson said: “It feels like it’s been ages working towards this.
“We’re always very process driven and looking to what comes next but when you get to the end of a cycle like this and it doesn’t get bigger than this it’s really quite overwhelming to experience this but be really grateful.”
Asked about the piece of paper she had made the note on, she added: “13 years ago, I’d forgotten about it obviously.
“A couple years ago my dad reminded me.
“I know he’d be so so proud. I’m just thinking a lot about him right now, it’s really lovely.”
Their win came shortly after the men’s quadruple sculls team Tom Barras, Callum Dixon, Matthew Hayward and Graeme Thomas missed out on a medal as they finished fourth.
Overall, it also means Great Britain have now won 71 Olympic medals in rowing, including 32 gold medals – the second most behind USA and Germany.
Team GB are tipped to add more rowing medals to their collection in later rowing events.
It already marks an improvement from Tokyo when GB failed to land a gold.
Team GB have also won bronze medals in the women’s triathlon and women’s synchronisation 10 metres platform.