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Olympics: Day Nine GB women’s team results

August 17, 2008

Two gold medals and two silver medals make this the best day yet for team GB’s women. And on top of that Rebecca Romero created history by being the first British athlete to win medals in different sports at a summer Olympic Games. In the Athletics Jeanette Kwakye became the first British woman to make an Olympic 100m final for 24 years.

Elsewhere there were disappointments for the Quad Scull who were devastated to miss Gold; and in the Marathon, despite a heroic effort, Paula Radcliffe could only manage 23rd.

Athletics:
Marathon Final: Although all eyes were on Paula Radcliffe it was Mara Yamauchi who was the first Brit home in sixth place – the highest placing ever in the Olympic Marathon by a British athlete. Paula Radcliffe finished a brave 23rd, literally limping over the line; and Liz Yelling provided more heroics by finishing 26th despite a nasty fall in which she bruised three ribs.

Read our interview with Liz Yelling 

100m: Jeanette Kwakye became the first British woman to make an Olympic 100m final for 24 years. She finished a very creditable 6th in a PB of 11.14.

“I learned I need more of this kind of experience – you can’t buy it in the shops,” said Kwakye who is now looking to London 2012.

400m: Christine Ohuruogu is the only British athlete to go through to tuesday’s final after winning her semi final. Ohuruogu looked every inch the world champion as once again she powered through the final 70m to take the win, easing up into an impressive 50.14 time.

Lee McConnell missed out after a strong semi-final in which she finished sixth. And sadly Nicola Sanders could not match last years form, finishing fourth in her semi-final in a season’s best of 50.71.

100m hurdles heats: Sarah Claxton is through to the semi-final after finishing third in her heat in 12.97.

400m hurdles: Tasha Danvers ran a great race despite a season of injury woe – she won her heat in 55.19, the fourth fastest qualifier.

Cycling:
Individual Pursuit: Rebecca Romero produced a stunning performance in the velodrome to add a gold medal in the individual pursuit final, to the rowing silver medal she won in the quad scull in Athens four years ago. She also made a piece of history by becoming the first British athlete to win medals in different sports at summer Olympic Games.

Read our interview with Rebecca Romero 

A well deserved silver went to Wendy Houvenaghel in the same race, making a remarkable one-two for Britain.

Women’s Sprint Qualifying Round: Victoria Pendleton qualified fastest for the next round.

Sailing:
Yngling: Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson took Gold on a wet and stormy day on the water, making this an incredible second successive win for the two Sarah’s.

One Person Dinghy-Laser Radial: Penny Clarke is in 8th place after 6 races.

Windsurfer -RS:X: Bryony Shaw is in 6th position after 7 races.

Rowing:
Quad Scull: Annie Vernon, Debbie Flood, Frances Houghton and Katherine Grainger were devastated to take Silver, losing out to the Chinese crew. It was an enthralling race, with the British crew well placed for Gold – but sadly they were overpowered by the Chinese boat in the last 250m.

Read our interview with Debbie Flood 

Eight: Sarah Winckless, Carla Ashford, Jess Eddie, Katie Greves, Natasha Howard, Alison Knowles, Natasha Page, Beth Rodford, Caroline O’Connor finished 5th in the final. (Alice Freeman and Louisa Reeve replaced Natasha Howard and Alison Knowles who were withdrawn due to illness)

Swimming:
4 x 100m Medley Relay Final: Francesca Halsall, Gemma Spofforth, Jemma Lowe, Kate Haywood 4th . Despite setting a new European record of 3:57.50 the four were disappointed to miss out on a medal and finished an agonising fourth place.

“I had a good swim but we are all very disappointed,” said backstroker Spofforth, who set the pace in the first leg, handing over with the team in second place. “Fourth again is not where we wanted to be.”

Danielle Sellwood, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine

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