A golden start for Team GB and they’re not finished yet

It started as everyone expected it would, in a storm of waves and spray and a world in Adam Peaty's wake.

The greatest breastroker the world has ever seen did what he does better than anyone on the planet on day three of the Tokyo Olympics, exploding away from his competition to defend the 100m breaststroke title he won five years ago in Rio with the utmost of ease.

It was the first of a golden start to these delayed Games with Team GB bolting out of the blocks almost as fast as Peaty so routinely does.

Though Peaty's was the first gold it was actually a bronze medal which kicked it all off, Chelsie Giles claiming it in the women’s -52kg judo on just the second day.

There was to be more combat sport silverware too with Bradly Sinden taking silver in the men’s -68kg taekwondo and coming mere seconds from gold himself.

Last-second drama has been the theme for GB and not always of the right sort. Both Lauren Williams and Bianca Walkden tasted defeat after being moments from victory. They both claimed medals, however. Double Olympic champion Jade Jones wasn't so lucky as her hopes of a record third consecutive title were dashed at the very first hurdle.

On a magic Monday morning, Tom Pidcock followed Peaty's performance with one almost as impressive, storming away from the mountain bike field to claim gold just mere months after breaking his collarbone.

And there was more emotion, this time back at the pool, as Tom Daley finally ended his wait for an Olympic gold medal.

A veteran of three Games, top spot alongside Matty Lee was a first after a pair of bronzes in London and Rio and the pictures of the tearful pair on the podium brought the house down.

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Another Tom - Dean this time - showed it wasn't just Peaty who could dominate the pool with a stunning performance seeing him pip teammate and friend Duncan Scott for gold in the 200m freestyle.

Scott would join him on the top step a night later as part of the victorious relay squad. The Scot could yet add two more medals before the fortnight is done, a feat that would be first for any Brit in history.

The triathlon has seen more medal success with the brutal Tokyo conditions proving no match for GB's premier multi-eventers.

Alex Yee grabbed a silver medal in the men's race on day three with Georgia Taylor-Brown overcoming a last-lap puncture to match him in the women's event.

Both will now hope to go one better as part of the mixed team relay later this week.

It has been a first week of firsts all round with Mallory Franklin only the second British woman to claim a medal - a silver - in the canoe slalom in the very first running of the C1 class.

Alice Kinsella, Amelie Morgan, Jennifer Gadirova and Jessica Gadirova won a surprise bronze in the women's team gymnastics too while Matt Coward-Holley won his first Olympic silverware with a bronze in the trap shooting.

Charlotte Dujardin dispensed with firsts long ago, however.

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The dressage great is now the most decorated British female athlete in history after not one but two bronzes aboard Gio saw her blow past Dame Katherine Grainger with six career medals.

With 18 medals in seven days it is Great Britain's best-ever start to an Olympics with more surely on the way.

Peaty will be back with eyes on more gold in the swimming relays over the weekend while athletics world champions Dina Asher-Smith and Katarina Johnson-Thompson are two of the premier hopes when the track and field gets underway on Friday.

Seonaid Mcintosh is one of the best shooters in the world and will have her sights firmly trained on gold in her signature event, the 50m rifle, on Saturday.

And who could forget the original golden couple - Jason and Laura Kenny begin their quest for yet more medals when the track cycling gets underway next week.

It's been a golden start but Team GB aren't finished yet.