Oar-some Florence bags silver
David Florence continued Great Britain’s Olympic medal trail with a battling silver in the men’s slalom canoe event.
The 26-year-old Scot climbed two places on the final day of competition to become Britain’s first slalom canoeing medallist since Gareth Marriott at the 1992 Games in Barcelona.
His performance completed another successful day for Britain’s athletes in Beijing with Tina King later leading the equestrian team to a bronze medal before securing another bronze herself in the individual event.
Florence began the day fourth but his faultless final run of 178.61 seconds saw him leapfrog Poland’s Krzystof Bieryt and Czech Stanislav Jezek to finish within just two seconds of eventual winner, Michal Martikan of Slovakia.
“I am absolutely delighted that I put in a good final run in the pressure of a big final – it is the most exciting time to do it,” Florence said afterwards.
“It was a bit nerve-wracking watching the guys follow, but I was happy I had done a good run and that was all that I could do.”
“I would have loved the gold but I ended up with silver. A medal is what I have been after for the last four years.”
There was to be no celebration for Florence’s Team GB team-mate Campbell Walsh, who endured a nightmare run in the men’s kayak slalom.
Walsh, the 2004 silver medallist in Athens and current European champion, could only finish 15th and last in his semi-final.