Rio 2016 round-up: Team GB underdogs get in on the act in hockey and show jumping gold as Usain Bolt bids farewell
The Netherlands had not been beaten in women's hockey for twelve years before Great Britain's thrilling penalty shoot-out victory
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.This is getting daft. It’s all very well Team GB’s star names winning gold – your Mo Farahs, your Andy Murrays - now the underdogs are stepping up and adding to Britain’s amazing Olympic achievements here in Rio.
No one gave the women’s hockey team a prayer of beating Holland in the women’s final at the Olympic Hockey Centre in Rio’s Deodoro district. Not even their coach, Danny Kerry, who described the Dutch as “red-hot favourites” before the match. The Netherlands after all have not been beaten in the Games since 2004. But win GB did and in thrilling fashion too.
The match finished 3-3 in normal time despite Dutch dominance throughout. GB, whose heroic goalkeeper Maddie Hinch had already saved a penalty, took the lead against the run of play through Lily Owsley before Holland struck back. When they took the lead it looked all over but GB equalised when Crista Cullen turned a loose ball.
When they fell behind again it looked like curtains but Nicola White scrambled home another equaliser and the game headed for the tense penalty shuffle where each player takes the ball from the 23-yard line and has eight seconds to score.
Hinch became the hero as Holland failed to score allowing Holly Webb to smash home the winner after Helen Richardson Walsh had scored a penalty flick after a foul was committed on a penalty shuffle-taking Brit. Confused? So were most of the people watching. But when Webb found the net it led to mass celebrations from the GB squad, huge dejection from the Dutch who had played some wonderful hockey.
Helen and Kate Richardson-Walsh made history by becoming the first same sex partnership to win Olympic gold. “To win an Olympic medal is special, to win it with your wife standing next to you on the podium, after she scored in the shootout, is so special,” Kate said. “We will cherish this for the rest of our lives.”
Jamaica came first last night in the men's 4x100m relay, giving Usain Bolt his ninth Olympic gold medal and his 'triple triple'.
Bolt has now ran his last Olympic race after confirming he will not compete at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
The United States came home in third, but while they were still celebrating their bronze medal was disqualified. Team GB came in fifth place.
Nick Skelton was not supposed to win gold either. You’re not at 58, are you?
But he, too, pulled off a shock victory in the equestrianism, taking the top prize in the individual event.
Skelton had retired 16 years ago after injuring his neck but returned at London 2012 to win gold in the team event.
Joshua Millner, who claimed shooting gold in 1908 at the age of 61, is Britain's oldest Olympic champion but Skelton is the oldest in over a century tasting glory in his seventh Olympic Games. He is also the oldest medallist at Rio 2016.
“This has really capped my career,” Skelton said. “I’ve been in the sport a long time and to win this now at my age is amazing. I’ve always wanted to do this – I nearly did it in London. I’ve had European medals and world medals, but to win this is pretty emotional for all concerned in my team.
“I always knew in the back of my mind that I could do it. Big Star is an absolutely amazing horse. You can trust him, he wants to do it and he has all the right attributes. For me he’s the best horse I’ve had and will ever have.”
Walthamstow's own Lutalo Muhammad took bronze in the men's 80kg taekwondo four years ago but he always had his sights set on a medal of a greater hue. Yet, after cruising through three rounds to reach the final, it was ultimately not to be.
In literally the last second of his gold medal match, while leading Cote d'Ivoire's Cheick Sallah Cissé 6-4, his opponent unleashed a reverse kick to head and scored four crucial, decisive points. Heartbreak, but also a silver, for Muhammad.
The women's 4x100m relay team of Asha Philip, Desiree Henry, Dina Asher-Smith and Darryl Neita took an impressive bronze in 41.77 seconds, behind a blistering run from the United States and Jamaica, who took silver.
There was further success for GB in the boxing ring where Joe Joyce reached the men's super-heavyweight final. Londoner Joyce came back from losing the first round to hammer Kazakh Ivan Dycho in the next two rounds by huge margins and was the undoubted victor.
His final is on Sunday as Britain now seek to add yet more gold over the weekend in what has already been a glorious Games.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments