Gymnastics: Great Britain take historic men’s team bronze
There was no silver lining in the men’s team final but instead a bronze medal for Great Britain, who bagged a first men’s gymnastics medal for 100 years.
However, a last minute appeal from the Japanese team saw a silver medal taken away from GB, as Japan’s inquiry into Kohei Uchimura’s score on the Pommel Horse in the last event of the final proved successful, with Uchimura’s score amended to see Japan leap from fourth to second behind gold medal winners China. Ukraine – who earned a bronze in the initial score – were dropped to fourth.
Max Whitlock, Dan Purvis, Louis Smith, Sam Oldham and Kristian Thomas achieved a score of 271.711 across the six events that make up the men’s team final, with the Brits outscoring all of their rivals in the Floor and Pommel Horse disciplines.
China were convincing winners, achieving an overall score of 275.997 to finish way ahead of the Japanese, who picked up a final score of 271.952 after their appeal over Uchimura’s marks.
Britain were locked in a compelling battle with the Ukraine for bronze, with the final Floor events from Purvis and Thomas proving decisive.
The North Greenwich Arena erupted when Uchimura – whose clumsy dismount from the Pommel Horse was the focus of the judge’s scrutiny – saw the unusual final score which temporarily promoted GB and left Japan out of the medals, but after the inquiry GB’s position was altered to boos from the crowd.
It wasn’t long before those boos turned to cheers though, with Great Britain completing the most unlikely of achievements and securing a third medal for the hosts on day three of the Games.
“Our target was always top five, so to win bronze is fantastic,” said an emotional Smith, whose earlier Pommel Horse prowess had seen him reduced to tears.
“It’s a medal end of the day. It’s what dreams are made of,” added Thomas.
Poor fourth dive costs Daley and Waterfield bronze
Great Britain trying to turn silver into gold
Tancock and Spofforth miss out on medals
Grainger and Watkins break Olympic record in double sculls
Bad day for Ben Ainslie
Robson and Watson advance for Britain
Zoe Smith rocks with British record
Medals table
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