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4 Aug 2012

Britain wins two Olympic golds as rowers triumph

Great Britain wins its ninth and tenth gold medals of the Olympics as the men’s rowing four and the women’s lightweight double both triumph at Eton Dorney.

Andrew Triggs Hodge, Tom James, Pete Reed and Alex Gregory of Great Britain celebrate after winning gold in the Men's Four final on day 8 of the Olympics (pic: Getty)

The men’s rowing four of Andy Triggs Hodge, Pete Reed, Andy Gregory and Tom James won gold in the first race of the day.

Speaking after their success Reed said: “The hours we do, the pain – it was all worth it in the end.”

James added: “I was trying to keep focus.

“I knew when we got up to the start I felt good and I felt comfortable. It’s just unbelievable and history in the making.”

Just minutes later Kat Copeland and Sophie Hosking hugged each other, almost in disbelief, as they claimed gold in the lightweight event.

It doesn’t get any better than this. Sophie Hosking

A bewildered Copeland said: “I can’t believe this is real – that we just won the Olympics.”

The pair, who only teamed up earlier this season, beat world champions Greece and China, and an elated Hosking said: “It’s no coincidence that we’ve all performed so well, we have a fantastic support system.

“Everybody is amazing here – we get clapped when we walk to the venue, and cheered when we compete. It doesn’t get any better than this.”

Copeland and Hosking became the third female team to win gold in the Olympics – beforehand no British woman had ever won gold.

Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter went on to win silver in the men’s lightweight sculls after the race was restarted because of a problem with their boat.

Read more: Team GB's women win another rowing gold

Ennis charge continues

Jessica Ennis is on the verge of Olympic glory. With one event left in the heptathlon this evening (Saturday) she heads the leader board with the cushion of a 188.

The 26-year-old has 5971 points with just the 800 metres left to go. She got there with an impressive long jump to open her second-day account and then threw the javelin 47.49 metres – a lifetime best.

After the “super Saturday” morning session in the heptathlon, she admitted her relief – and planned to rest before tonight’s race.

“I was anxious coming into today’s events,” she revealed.

“With my long jump being up and down all year. I’ve had a lot of no jumps this year and I kept thinking: ‘Am I going to throw it away doing three no jumps?’ – so it is a massive relief to have got that right.

“To have got a solid jump and a personal best in the javelin is more than I could ask for. I just want to go back now and rest a bit.”

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