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Team GB wins their first gold of the Paris Olympics in team eventing

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2 months ago

July 29, 2024

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Team GB wins their first gold of the Paris Olympics in team eventing

Team GB have won their first gold of the Paris Olympics, in team eventing.

Successfully defending the gold medal they won in Tokyo, Tom McEwen and JL Dublin, Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo and Laura Collett and London 52 held off the challenge of France to take top spot.

A total of 15.8 penalties incurred on Saturday’s cross-country stage had made it tight at the top, but a clear round from McEwen, with one fence down from both Canter and Collett, was good enough to seal gold.

Olympics live: Team GB shoot up medal table after first gold

The vital clear in the final round was enough to lift Britain into first and leave France with the silver medal. Japan took bronze.

Team GB finished on 91.30 penalties, ahead of France in second on 103.6 and Japan in third on 115.80.

The win at the Chateau de Versailles, in Paris, marked a fifth Olympic eventing team title for Team GB.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer congratulated McEwen, Carter and Collett on their win.

He said: “Our first @Paris2024 gold medal. Congratulations Ros, Laura and Tom, what an incredible achievement.”

Following the gold, along with a silver medal won by Tom Daley and Noah Williams in the 10m synchronised diving, Team GB moved up to seventh in the medal table.

“I am on top of the world, I have never ridden in an atmosphere like that. Thankfully, I have a trusty horse in London 52 and team-mates as well. Thankfully, we brought it home,” gold medal-winning eventer Laura Collett said, speaking to BBC.

Also interviewed by the BBC, McEwen added: “It was a class last round from Laura to get the gold, the first of the Games. It has been a rollercoaster but we rose to the occasion.”