The medals continued again for Great Britain on day 11 of the Paris Olympics, though no one managed to secure a gold medal after Keely Hodgkinson’s win on Monday night.
Josh Kerr claimed 1500 metres silver after the United States’ Cole Hocker stormed to a shock gold in Olympic record time.
The Stade de France final was billed as the showdown of the century between the world champion Scotsman and his arch nemesis Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the Tokyo 2020 gold medallist.
The Norwegian quickly saw himself in front and held the lead into the final lap, when Kerr made his move along the back straight.
Just as it looked like Great Britain might have their second gold medal on the track, Hocker surged forward to snatch the title away as American Yared Nuguse claimed bronze, with Ingebrigtsen fourth.
Kerr, 26, who smashed Sir Mo Farah’s 11-year-old national record with a time of three minutes 27.79 seconds, said it was “the best 1500m performance that I could ask for” but added that he was “beaten by the better man” on the day.
Kerr’s first-ever coach, Eric Fisher, who was watching the race from the Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh, said everyone was “very proud”.
Mr Fisher, who began coaching Kerr when he was just eight, said: “He got a silver, so we won’t give up on him! He’s got a bronze and silver, and in four years’ time the gold to get the full set.”
He added: “We’ll tell him, ‘Josh, make sure next time it’s gold!’”
Britain also celebrated silver in the men’s team sprint for a second successive Olympics.
Jack Carlin, Ed Lowe and Hamish Turnbull were beaten by Harrie Lavreysen, Jeffrey Hoogland and Roy van den Berg of the Netherlands, who broke the world record for the second time in an hour to win in 40.949 seconds.
Carlin, part of the Tokyo team three years ago alongside Sir Jason Kenny and Ryan Owens, said silver was “absolutely” the best Team GB could have achieved.
In women’s skateboarding, Sky Brown defied a shoulder injury to claim a bronze medal for Great Britain.
Brown matched her bronze medal in Tokyo with a score of 92.31 in her second of three runs to cap a remarkable comeback having dislocated her shoulder last month.
The 16-year-old had vowed to “fight through” the pain, and she rose from fourth place after her first run.
Lewis Richardson became the only British boxer at Paris 2024 to win a medal, securing a bronze in the semi-final on Tuesday evening.
The 27-year-old fell narrowly short of reaching the men’s 71kg gold medal match after being beaten on split decision by Mexico’s Marco Verde at Roland Garros.
He was already guaranteed bronze following victory against Zeyad Eashash in the quarter-finals on Saturday and reflected on a bittersweet feeling after missing the chance to go for gold.
He said: “It’s very raw and it is hard to process right now.
“I’ve won that bronze medal, but it’s hard to fully celebrate because you’re moving onto the next one and looking to change the colour of that medal.
“I’m sure I’m going to make a conscious effort whenever the time’s right – and hopefully sooner rather than later – to flick that switch and be proud of what I’ve achieved.
“Because rightly or wrongly I’m the only British boxer to medal at these Games and I hope I’ve made the country proud.”
Great Britain’s Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix missed out on claiming a second Olympic medal after finishing sixth in the women’s 10m platform.
The 19-year-old qualified for the final after finishing third in Monday’s semi-finals and a strong opening dive saw her hovering outside the podium positions in fourth.
However, she slipped down the table and had to settle for a sixth-placed finish.
Spendolini-Sirieix, who had already claimed bronze in the 10m synchronised event with partner Lois Toulson last week, said she was not upset by the result, adding: “Three years ago I didn’t even want to be alive, so today I’m just happy that I am alive, I’m breathing and I’ve got my family to support me.”
Tuesday’s results mean Team GB stands in fifth place on the medal table with 46 – 12 gold, 15 silver and 19 bronze.
Ireland’s Kellie Harrington confirmed she will “retire a champion” after claiming her second successive Olympic gold medal on Tuesday.
The Irish boxer beat Wenlu Yang at Roland Garros in the women’s 60kg final.
Victory secured back-to-back wins for Harrington in the Games after defending her gold medal from Tokyo 2020 and she confirmed her retirement post-bout.
She told RTE: “It’s the last hurrah. I’m done. I always said I’d retire a champion, that’s it.”
Harrington gave Ireland a fourth gold medal of the Games. The team has also won three bronze medals.
Fans at Diamond Park, in the heart of Dublin, cheered with pride after Harrington’s win and promised her a big celebration when she returns home.
Locals praised her work in the local community, putting on sports days for young people and working as a carer and said she had not been changed by her success.
Gillian Collins said the fighter always had time for a chat with people and was “very, very down to earth”.
Patricia Byrne added: “She’s made us all proud. It brings everybody together.”
Harrington is Ireland’s most decorated female Olympian, the only Irish boxer to contest back-to-back Olympic finals, and the first Irish woman to win medals at two Olympic games.
Most Popular
Comments / 0