Beijing highlights

Coe Reflects on Team GB Effort -Sebastian Coe has thanked Team GB for helping generate excitement for the 2012 games .



The London 2012 chairman felt the medal winning performances would help London 2012 to further inspire the country in the run up to the next Olympic Games.

“The platform provided for us by Team GB is one that we should not overlook – the performance out here has been a testament to the focus of the national governing bodies, the quality of competitors, the world class nature of that coaching,” he said.

“We as an organising committee are very grateful for that platform because that allows us to drive the length and breadth of the United Kingdom building on the excitement that has been generated over the last two-and-a-half weeks here.

“Whether it is bringing to the table more business partners or broadening the appeal to groups of people who may not have understood the full value of that - until the performances that they’ve witnessed domestically in the last few days.”

Coe, who said he had seen a wide range of sports including hockey, equestrian, and cycling, as well as athletics, during his visit, also felt that despite the successful GB medal haul, the sports would be well placed to repeat their achievements four years down the line.

“If you look at the Sydney Games, in their own backyard, the Australians did remarkably well, but four years later in Athens they actually won more medals. The structures that you put in place are hopefully structures that will keep delivering for the next 20 years,” he said.

“What we’ve witnessed here is the amalgam of good administration within governing bodies, world-class coaching, elevated levels of funding and hungry and motivated competitors. If you bring those four things all together you tend to get people up onto a rostrum.

“It is very important that we now recognise there is no happy accident out there in the Olympic arena, if you don’t have any one of those four things you don’t get up on the rostrum. I take my hat off to the work that is currently being done in the governing bodies, because they have supported some extraordinarily talented competitors.”
 

DeGale Delights in Boxing Semi-Final

James DeGale, the 22-year middleweight from London, became Great Britain's first boxer to earn a gold medal chance when he out-pointed Darren Sutherland of Ireland 10-3 in the semi-finals.
DeGale turned round previous form against the 26-year-old Sutherland who had beaten him in four of five fights.
Today there was no argument who was going to win with DeGale never losing control and frustrating the Dublin based Sutherland with the quality of his defence and his counter punching skills. DeGale said when he came to Beijing that he intended to go one better than Amir Khan who was a silver medallist in Athens four years ago.

Today there was no argument who was going to win with DeGale never losing control and frustrating the Dublin based Sutherland with the quality of his defence and his counter punching skills. DeGale said when he came to Beijing that he intended to go one better than Amir Khan who was a silver medallist in Athens four years ago.

Now DeGale has his chance and will be up against a difficult opponent in Emilio Correa of Cuba who looked sound and solid in his win over Vijender Kumar of India.

It was a great day for DeGale who danced away from Sutherland's fists before counter punching and scoring points rapidly.   The first round was close,with both boxers scoring one point each, before DeGale opened out in the second round to lead  3-1.

But the British  southpaw put the contest almost out of Sutherland's reach in the third round which he won 5-1 in a clear statement of his abilities.


 

Powell And Couch Dive Into History

Divers Stacie Powell and Tonia Couch made a little piece of history on Thursday morning (August 21) in Beijing as they both qualified for the final of the individual women’s 10m platform competition, the first time ever that Team GB has been represented by two female divers in an individual Olympic Games final.  

Powell left it late to clinch her place in Thursday evening’s final, going into the last round of dives in 13th place, one outside the qualification slots.

But she pulled off a back two-and-a-half somersault with one-and-a-half twists in the pike position – a degree of difficulty of 3.4 – to record a last round score of 62.90 and lift herself to 11th place.  

 

Gold and Silver Gets Track and Field off the Mark

Christine Ohuruogu underlined her credentials as the world’s best female 400m runner as she won Olympic gold, whilst Germaine Mason won silver in a thrilling high jump competition.

Ohuruogu powered home in Tuesday evening’s final at Beijing’s Bird’s Nest stadium, coming from fourth place at the final bend to win a pulsating race in 49.62 seconds.

 

Gold, Silver in the Keirin As Medals Keep Coming

Chris Hoy and Ross Edgar took Team GB’s cycling medal count to five in three finals on Saturday evening local time as they completed a memorable one-two in the men’s keirin.


 

Sailing Gold on Hold in Finn and Yngling

Ben Ainslie was frustrated in his quest for his third successive Olympic title this morning with the Finn class medal race abandoned after 30 minutes with Ainslie in gold medal position.

Ainslie and the Yngling trio of Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson, will now go for gold on Sunday as the medal races are rolled over a day due to light winds.

 

Newton Bounces Back For Bronze

Having missed the 2008 World Championships after suffering a broken left collarbone following a collision with a car while out training, cyclist Chris Newton returned to top level competition in style in Beijing, picking up a bronze medal in the men’s points race at Laoshan Velodrome on Saturday evening local time.

 

DeGale Through to Quarter-Finals

James DeGale came to the Beijing Olympic Games with the intention of going one better in boxing than Amir Khan and his silver medal in Athens four years. Today DeGale came a step nearer to his objective as he took his challenge into the quarter-finals.

 

Third Successive Gold For GB in Men's Four

Britain’s men’s four put on a surge of power over the last 250m to win the nation’s third successive gold medal at this class.

The foursome of Tom James, Steve Williams, Pete Reed and Andy Triggs-Hodge over-powered the leading Australian boat to win in a time of 6:06.57, coming back from a deficit of 1.5 seconds at the 1500m mark.


 

Double Sculls Bronze for Wells and Rowbotham

The Team GB pairing of Matt Wells and Stephen Rowbotham took bronze in the men’s double sculls final on Saturday afternoon.

The pair took to the water knowing that they had not been outside the medals at any world cup so far this season and were confident the best was yet to come.

 

Reeve and Whitlam Finish Sixth in Pairs

The Team GB rowing duo of Louisa Reeve and Olivia Whitlam finished sixth in the Women’s pairs final on Saturday afternoon.

Although they made a strong start, by the halfway point the crew were out of the running as the fight for gold was starting to take shape.

 

Campbell Finishes Fifth in Single Scull Final

Alan Campbell came home fifth in the men's single scull final in Shunyi today.

Campbell, whose Olympic preparations were hampered by a knee infection, got off to a bright start, leading at 500m.

GB Pursue Athletics Medals in Bird's Nest

Team GB continued their pursuit of athletics medals on Friday night at the Bird’s Nest, with Andy Baddeley and Tyrone Edgar making further progress and a British record for Helen Clitheroe in the 3000m steeplechase.

Kelly Sotherton and Julie Hollman continued day one of their heptathlon challenge with the shot put and finishing with the 200m

 

Rowing Finals Preview For Saturday 16 August

Team GB’s rowers take to the water to contest five finals at Shunyi Rowing-Canoeing Park on Saturday (August 16).

First to go will be Alan Campbell in the single scull, with a start time of 15:50 local time (08:50 BST). Campbell qualified second from his semi-final in a time of 7:05.24, narrowly ahead of world record holder Mahe Drysdale (NZL) in third place.  

Bryant Brings Team GB’s Judo Campaign to a Close

Team GB’s Judo campaign ended on Friday (August 15) as Karina Bryant exited the heavyweight category in her opening fight.

 

Gallantree Gains Invaluable Springboard Lesson

Olympic debutant Rebecca Gallantree was unable to progress beyond the qualification of the women’s individual 3m springboard this afternoon.

 

Bronze For Rowers Laverick And Bebington

Elise Laverick and Anna Bebington brought home the bronze medal for Team GB after a thrilling finale to the women’s double scull at Shunyi Rowing-Canoeing Park, near Beijing, on Saturday (August 16).

The British pair staged a sprited fightback over the second half of the race, overhauling early pacesetters China and closing fast on the front two boats from Germany and New Zealand.

 

Wright Calls Time After Missing Final

Trampolinist Claire Wright has retired from competition after narrowly missing out on qualifying for the final of the women’s gymnastic trampoline event at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.  

She finished in 10th place overall to earn a place as a reserve for the medal round.

 

Flyweight Yafai Loses to Experienced Cuban

Great Britain's boxing team suffered another setback when flyweight Khalid Yafai was beaten in his first bout in the Olympic ring by experienced Cuban Laffita Hernandez.

 

Adlington Sets World Record to Win Second Gold

Team GB’s Rebecca Adlington won her second gold medal of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, shattering the 19-year-old 800m freestyle world record in the process.

Adlington added the 800m freestyle title today (Saturday) to the 400m freestyle gold she won on Monday.

 

Gold Medal for GB Track Cycling Men's Sprint Team

Team GB's track cyclists got off to a golden start on the first night of competition at the Laosham Velodrome in Beijing as the men's sprint team defeated France to win Team GB's third gold medal of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

 

Medals Await GB Crews

Triple Olympic medallist Ben Ainslie is guaranteed at least a Finn silver medal after the only race for the class on a difficult day in Qingdao (Friday 15 August).

 

Team Sprinters Beat World Champs for Gold

The GB cycling team sprint trio of Chris Hoy, Jason Kenny and Jamie Staff handed out a half-second defeat to world champions France to strike Olympic gold at the Laoshan Velodrome tonight (Friday).

 

European And British Records Tumble in the Pool

The European women’s 4x100m medley relay record went tumbling in the pool on Friday evening Britain’s women racked up a time of 3:59.14 to qualify for Sunday’s final (August 17).

 

Team GB Men’s Hockey Defeat South Africa 2-0

It was a case of ‘job done’ for Team GB as they bounced back from defeat against the Netherlands in their previous game to record a vital 2-0 win over South Africa which keeps their hopes of semi final qualification alive.

 

Downie Achieves Gymnastics Landmark

Teenager Becky Downie today (Friday) achieved the best placing yet by a British gymnast in an individual all-around final at an Olympic Games.

 

Simmonds Reaches 200m Backstroke Final

Lizzie Simmonds progressed to tomorrow’s final of the 200m backstroke with a third place finish in her semi-final this morning.

 

Athletics Latest: Bright Start for Team GB

Team GB made a bright start to the athletics programme of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on Friday morning local time.

 

Wills Gutted to Lose to Cuban

Archer Alan Wills lost a closely-contested battle for a quarter-final place to Cuba’s Juan Carlos Stevens, ending Team GB’s interest in the archery competition in Beijing.

 
                    

Blow For Hammond in Windy Conditions

Jonathan Hammond shot an impressive first series 99, but it was not enough to see him progress past qualifying in the men’s 50m rifle prone competition at the Beijing Shooting Range Hall on Friday morning local time. 
                     
 
  

GB Qualify Two for Individual Dressage Final

The British dressage team finished today's final team competition in sixth place and although this leaves them outside the medal standings, two Team GB riders - Emma Hindle and Laura Bechtolsheimer - have qualified for the individual final, which begins on Saturday.

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