Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Team GB win eventing gold, Tom McEwen adds individual silver and Emily Campbell claims historic weightlifting medal
The Team GB trio of Tom McEwen, Laura Collett and Oliver Townend won Britain’s first Olympic gold medal in team eventing since 1972 today in Tokyo.
McEwen lated added individual silver, while Emily Campbell claimed a historic silver in women’s weightlifting.
GB held off the challenge of Australia and France to ditch their perennial bridesmaid’s tag and finally end their 49-year wait for team eventing gold.
McEwen, riding Toledo de Kerser, then produced a flawless final jumping round to take second place in the individual eventing competition and complete a memorable day.
“I loved the pressure this week, I’ve loved being in this team and we’ve had to perform,” said McEwen, 30, from Minchinhampton.
“To get that team gold after 49 years is really special. We are new to this experience, we’ve all just embraced the pressure and we’ve got three amazing horses.”
Collett’s success comes eight years after she spent six days in a coma following a heavy fall.
“Just to be here was more than a dream come true and to be stood here winning a gold medal, it hasn’t sunk in,” said Collett, 31, from Salperton.
“I look back and I think back to where I was eight years ago, I knew I was lucky to be alive, let alone able to do the job that I love and be lucky enough to have a horse like London 52 to bring me to a place like Tokyo.
“To top it off with a gold medal, I’m just super grateful to be on a team with these two guys as well.”
World No1 Townend was in contention for an individual medal too but had to settle for fifth, while Collett finished ninth.
Campbell wins historic weightlifting silver
Campbell, meanwhile, won Team GB’s first ever medal in women’s weightlifting with silver in the 87kg+ category.
Britain has only ever won seven Olympic medals in weightlifting, all by men and none since 1984.
Campbell ended that drought by lifting a combined 283kg made up of 122kg in the snatch and 161kg in the clean and jerk.
“I just want to thank everyone who believed in me,” said Campbell, 27, from Nottingham.
“You can achieve anything you want to, I picked up a barbell for the first time five years ago for the first time and now I’m an Olympic silver medallist.”