Comments from Team GB athletes after today’s afternoon/evening events at Tokyo 2020
Cycling (Road)
Comments from Team GB cyclists and staff after today’s Men’s Road Race
Adam Yates
Age: 28 Hometown: Bury
Result: Ninth (leading Brit and in medal contention in the closing stages)
On the race:
“We rode the race how we wanted to. We did the
best we could, none of us had ideal prep going into the race.“The boys come out of the Tour either tired or banged and bruised. To miss the top ten is quite frustrating but in the end, it's the biggest bike race in the world and one of the toughest races I've done in a long time. But it is what it is.”
On failings of the chasing group:
“We could have worked together more but we were looking out for ourselves a little bit.
“When you get in that kind of scenario on that course, there's always going to be someone who wants to sit on and save energy.
“In the end, that's what happened and we didn't work super great together. I don't think it would have made too much difference."
Geraint Thomas
Age: 35 Hometown: Cardiff
Result: Withdrew from the race with 60km to go having earlier been caught in a crash and fall involving teammate Tao Geoghegan Hart
On his condition:
"I'm feeling beat up, but not too bad. I've felt worse. I landed on my right side again, which wasn't ideal, and the muscles and everything were in spasm almost."
On what caused the crash:
“It's a normal sort of crash thing. It's just disappointing, such a freak thing. Tao slipped on a bit of a metal, a metal ridge along the middle of the road. I was on his wheel with nowhere to go, and just went straight down myself.
“It's disappointing after all the hard work and sacrifice this year, especially after the Tour with all that happened there.
“I live to fight another day, and just try and rest up, recover and try to give Wednesday another big go."
On Wednesday's time trial, where he competes alongside Tao Geoghegan Hart:
“At the moment, I don't think I'd say I'm looking forward to Wednesday but it's another chance. I just want to forget about everything tonight, switch off, have dinner and ring Max, my son.
“That puts it all in perspective. I'll get up tomorrow, recover as best I can and give it one last hit.”
Swimming
Comments from Team GB’s swimmers after today’s action at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre
Adam Peaty
Age: 26 Hometown: Staffordshire: Uttoxeter
Result: Won his 100m breaststroke heat in 57.56s to reach Sunday’s semi-finals as the fastest qualifier
On whether there is more in the tank:
“Definitely. Heats are heats. I always have cobwebs and I had that at exactly the same time in Rio and I always build on that.
“I was a bit shaky off the start, for some reason I was gripping it a bit hard but there's a lot of variables when it comes to an Olympics and it's about controlling as many of them as you can.
“Some you can't control - we were very delayed tonight and it was very hot, but it's about how we adapt into the semis and then hopefully into the final.
On pool conditions and lack of crowd:
“It feels like a fast pool. It was really weird with no crowd, really weird. But those are the psychological things we've got to adapt to.
“I had no idea how it was going to feel out there, but I'm glad the cobwebs are out now.
“Because there's no crowd, it doesn't feel like an Olympics. It's not the same, of course it's not.
“But obviously when you go back to the village, that's when it does. It's about controlling those emotions and performing when it matters.”
James Wilby
Age: 27 Hometown: Scotland: Glasgow
Result: Finished 2nd in his 100m breaststroke heat in 58.99s to reach Sunday’s semi-finals
On his performance:
“I'm pretty happy with that. It was the first race for me, so it was a chance to blow off the cobwebs, get settled into it and see where I lie.
“The main job is in the final so it's about making sure I hopefully get into a good position for that, and that's when it really matters. That's when I need everything to be absolutely perfect.
On how much more there is to come from him:
“I'm pretty confident. I don't think heats-wise I often go 58 seconds, so I'm scraping it, but at 58 I'm pretty happy with that.
“I feel like over the next few races, moving through the rounds, that's what I really enjoy doing and I'm quite looking forward to doing that.”
Max Litchfield
Age: 26 Hometown: West Yorkshire: Pontefract
Result: Finished 4th in his 400m individual medley heat in a time of 4:10.20 and qualified for Sunday’s final as 8th-fastest
On his performance:
“I think I was more nervous waiting at the end than I was swimming. Just happy to be through there, it wasn’t my best swim ever but I think it is good enough and that is all you need in the heats.
“We will look at the race footage and look at how my splits paced out and see what we can do in the morning.
On his preparation for Sunday morning’s final:
“It’s different having morning finals, we’ve practised it so I know what’s coming, it’s going to be a dog fight, it’s going to be close there. We’ll get in the outside smoker and see what goes on.
“The Glasgow meet we did was morning finals and apart from that we’ve just done some simulation stuff in training in the morning and looking at preparing well for a morning final and making sure you are in the best shape you can be in the morning.
“It’s just a different mindset but it’s no different to where we attack the race – it’s the same thing, it’s just a different mindset.”
Aimee Willmott
Age: 28 Hometown: North Yorkshire: Middlesbrough
Result: Finished 2nd in her 400m individual medley heat in a time of 4:35.28 to qualify 2nd-fastest for Sunday’s final
On her performance:
“I’m chuffed! I knew I had to get in and swim as fast as I could. I didn't have a clue of where that was going to put me, I just knew I couldn't leave anything left.
“So to finish and see a scoreboard flash up with second was a nice surprise, but I'm almost going to park that now, I'm not even going to think about it and I'm just going to go to bed, come back tomorrow and just race again.
On making a second Olympic final:
“I was 7th in my last Olympic final. I'm super happy to make the final this time.
“I was almost nervous that I wasn't going to do myself justice, so I knew I had to just give it everything.
“It felt quite good for a 400IM as it goes, so hopefully I can get some rest, come back tomorrow and race again.”
Hockey
Comments from Team GB’s men’s hockey players after their 3-1 Pool B victory over South Africa. Sam Ward opened the scoring, while Liam Ansell and Jack Waller scored on Olympic debut in the second half.
Sam Ward
Age: 30 Hometown: Leicester
On the performance:
“I think we performed well, we just didn’t take our chances.
"We are just building into the tournament, by the end of the game we started to play fluid hockey and that is what we have to take into the next one.
“I think early in the tournament, you are here just to put on the best show possible. We are building into it and the big games later on are what we really need to focus on.
“We have got to take points early on and make sure we win those games.”
Adam Dixon
Age: 34 Hometown: Nottingham
On the value of victory:
“What is the perfect start? We know tournament hockey is about field momentum from start to finish and rewind five years and the start we had against Belgium [a 4-1 loss] put us on a tricky run to claw things back.
“So I think on assessment to get a win against any side, it doesn’t matter how many go in the back of the net, we peppered the goal and won enough corners that on another day we could have converted but I think we have to take the positive spin on that.
"We are pumped up and ready to play Canada in game two."
Badminton
Comments from Team GB badminton players after today’s group matches at the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza BDM
Sean Vendy
Age: 25 Hometown: Milton Keynes
Result: Lost 15-21 11-21 to Indonesia’s Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo in Men’s Doubles Group A, alongside Ben Lane
On the match:
"We pushed them a little bit in the first game, which we're happy about. We knew it was going to be tough. I feel a little bit disappointed now, because the second game ran away from us a bit.
“They had a bit too much for us, they got too far in the lead and we couldn't come back from that.”
On facing the top pairing in the world:
"When they're on their game, it's so hard to score points against them. We were smashing from inside half-court and they can still get it back.
“Their persona on court is quite relaxed, so it doesn't look like you're stressing them that much. It's a tough one."
Ben Lane
Age: 24 Hometown: Exmouth
Result: Lost 15-21 11-21 to Indonesia’s Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo in Men’s Doubles Group A, alongside Sean Vendy
On recent form:
"We had a good start to the year, we learned quite a lot and had three tournaments in a row in Bangkok. It's a tough one to start your Olympics against the world number ones.
“We pushed them a bit in the first game but then when they get confident, it's so hard to play against them. They made it tough for us in the second.”
On the rest of their Group A campaign:
"It's a very tough group. There are three pairs in the top ten and we're outside that. It's the group stage, we have to forget today's match and focus on Monday."
Boxing
Comments from Team GB boxer Karriss Artingstall after today’s bouts at the Kokugikan Arena
Karriss Artingstall
Age: 26 Hometown: Macclesfield
Result: Unanimous win against Botswana’s Sadie Kenosi in the Women’s Featherweight (54-57kg) Round of 32
On her Olympic debut:
“It is amazing. You can see the arena is empty but just walking out before the boxing started, it is just an amazing arena.
“It is one of the best events I have been to, regardless of whether there is anyone here. But me hearing my Team GB teammates at the top is just what you need when you’re in there alone.”
On her victory:
“I am excited for the Games, I am in really good shape both mentally and physically. In my previous tournament, I wasn’t prepared mentally whereas here I am.
“I am cool, calm and collected and relaxed. All I need to do is switch on from that first bell and I am capable of beating all of these girls here.”
On her next opponent, third-seed Jucielen Romeu (Brazil):
“Seeds mean nothing to me, it’s just a number at the end of the day. I have never come across her myself so I don’t know what to expect.
“But as long as I am in there on my A game, I am a nightmare for anyone to beat.”
Football
Comments from Team GB coach Hege Riise and player Keira Walsh after a 1-0 victory over hosts Japan in Sapporo, Ellen White scoring her third goal of the tournament. GB will play Canada in their final group game but have secured their quarter-final place.
Keira Walsh
Age: 24 Hometown: Rochdale
On the performance:
“The Japanese midfield is so technical and it's always a tough game. We were too tentative in the first half and didn't get on the front foot.
"We settled and got in their face in the second half and were much more aggressive. It's another really great win.”
Hege Riise, coach
On the performance:
"We're very happy with two wins and that puts us in the position to rest players and recover for the knockout stages.
"We've got a lot of good players in this squad and I feel like we need to use them all.
"We were a different team in the second half, we had the togetherness I want to see and we were totally committed.
"I thought we really controlled the game. We were much more direct and really put them under pressure.”
On Ellen White (who has scored all Team GB's goals in the tournament):
“It’s another great goal, when you play a team like Japan you need the small margins that an excellent player like Ellen brings. It was a game-changing moment.”
Rowing
Comments from Team GB rowers after today’s races at the Sea Forest Waterway
Oliver Cook
Age: 31 Hometown: Windsor
Result: Won Heat 1 in a time of 5:55.36 to qualify for the Men's Four Final, with Matt Rossiter, Rory Gibbs and Sholto Carnegie
On becoming an Olympian:
“There are probably two things to say. The first thing, it’s our first Olympics. So you’re standing there and all these thoughts go through your head.
“This is the Olympics, don’t screw it up. And you think, ‘what if this happens?’
“It’s really good to put that to bed. We’re now Olympians, this is where we are, this is where we race. We belong here.
“In terms of performance, we’ve rowed better, we’re faster, it was a little bit washy, my steering wasn’t great. We can go a fair bit faster which is really exciting.
“I’m looking forward to come away and being able to say we had a smashing race. It feels like there’s a little bit more to come."
Matt Rossiter
Age: 31 Hometown: Newbury
Result: Won Heat 1 in a time of 5:55.36 to qualify for the Men's Four Final, with Oliver Cook, Rory Gibbs and Sholto Carnegie
On pre-race nerves:
“I remember being on the training lane and thinking, ‘it’s just a race’, we’ve done this since we were 14. It probably helps that there are no spectators, it literally is just a race.
“Everyone we’re racing against is just a bloke, we’ve done them in all season. I was expecting not to sleep last night and I slept really well. It actually went seamlessly.
“The word is relief, we knew we had the potential to win that. We didn’t get it quite right but still won with our B race so that’s good. We’re really pleased to get off the mark.
“Graeme Thomas didn’t race in Rio, didn’t become an Olympian. I’ve not spoken about this but it’s been in the back of my mind a little bit. At the start line I thought, 'we’ve actually made it.'"
Imogen Grant
Age: 25 Hometown: Cambridge
Result: Second in Heat 3 in a time of 7:03.29, behind Romania, to qualify for the lightweight women’s double sculls semi-finals, with Emily Craig
On the shift in the schedule:
“It’s one day at a time. We’re going to have to be a bit flexible with the weather, obviously the racing times were shifted today and it’s entirely possible that is going to happen again.
“We absolutely did the job today in making sure that we don’t have a repechage to deal with, whereas other crews will which is a benefit for us.”
Emily Craig
Age: 28 Hometown: East Sussex: Mark Cross
Result: Second in Heat 3 in a time of 7:03.29, behind Romania, to qualify for the lightweight women’s double sculls semi-finals, with Imogen Grant
On the way the race unfolded:
“It’s definitely the best opening race we have had in a regatta so far. It’s our fourth regatta as a crew together, so that’s really encouraging.
“We were fastest to 1500m, which is a good place to be and we’ll be looking to step it on each time we go down the trap.”
Mohamed Sbihi
Age: 33 Hometown: Surbiton
Result: Third in Heat 2 in a time of 5:34.50 in the Men’s Eight, progressing to the Repechage on Sunday, with Josh Bugajski, Jacob Dawson, Tom George, Charles Elwes, Oliver Wynne-Griffith, James Rudkin, Tom Ford and Harry Fieldman
On missing out on the final and having to go through the repechage:
“It’s not the performance that we wanted, slightly disappointing. We want to say it’s not a true reflection of ourselves and the way we’ve been training, but ultimately Wednesday will prove that.
“That is a disappointing result for the nine of us in the boat and hopefully not a true representation of what we can do within this boat.
“It’s not a great start to our Olympic campaign."
On what it meant to carry the flag:
“It was a huge honour, I’ve been on cloud nine for the last few days. I still don’t feel like I walked into the stadium last night.
“It was a very cool moment to share with Hannah [Mills] but ultimately, I’m sure Team GB won’t mind me saying this, we’re here to win medals, I’m not here to carry a flag.
“That, today, didn’t get me any closer to that job.”
Karen Bennett
Age: 32 Hometown: Edinburgh
Result: Fourth in Heat 1 in a time of 6:41.02 in the Women’s Four, progressing to the Repechage on Sunday, with Rowan McKellar, Harriet Taylor and Rebecca Shorten
On the performance:
“Very disappointed with the row. We obviously wanted to come out and really make an impression and go straight into that A final but sometimes that just doesn't happen.
“It doesn't always go to plan, and now we know how we don't want to do it so we can take that and we'll go back and have a chat about what we want to do, what we want to improve on for tomorrow so I think that's what we have to do now.
“And tomorrow we'll just go out and we'll race it like the final.”
Table tennis
Comments from Team GB table tennis players after today’s matches at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium
Tin-Tin Ho
Age: 22 Hometown: London, Paddington
Result: Lost 0-4 (7-11, 6-11, 10-12, 9-11) to Manika Batra (India) in Round 1 of Women's Singles
On the event:
"The experience of the Olympics was cool, but the result wasn't what I wanted. I feel like I played quite well. I've made improvements in the game but it was hard, because you're playing against the top, top level.
“Her style was quite difficult, I didn't get used to it until the third game and by then it was tough to come back. It was unfortunate.
"To get the lead was good, but she managed to throw me with her tactics and I couldn't respond."
On being the first woman to qualify by right to represent Team GB in table tennis since 1996:
"I'm really happy to become an Olympian, I'll take it forward as confidence and hopefully get some good results in the future."
Paul Drinkhall
Age: 31 Hometown: Middlesbrough
Result: Beat Nima Alamain (Iran) 4-1 (11-7, 11-1, 11-5, 8-11, 12-10) in Round 1 of Men's Singles
On the key to his victory:
"I just believed in the training I've done. He's a good player, he played very well throughout. I was very good in the first three sets and then possibly I just wanted to get to the finish line too much. Not consciously, just subconsciously I went a little bit safe and he took advantage of that. I'm very happy to get past him.
"It's been a very strange 18 months or so for lots and lots of people. It's great to be here, to be part of Team GB again. I feel in a good place to do good things."
On prospect of Round 2 tie with Austria's Robert Gardos:
"I'm going to get some good food, good recovery and go again. Good luck to him trying to stop me – he's a very good player. May the best man win!"
Artistic Gymnastics
Comments from Team GB’s artistic gymnasts after today’s men’s qualifying events at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre
Max Whitlock
Age: 28 Hometown: Hertfordshire: Hemel Hempstead
Result: Scored 14.900 and qualifies for pommel horse final. Helped Team GB score 256.594 points to qualify for the men’s team final.
On the pressure of qualification:
“I think I can talk on behalf of every gymnast when I say that qualification is the hardest event. It's the most nerve-wracking.
“It literally all rides on qualification. If you muck qualifications up, that's your Olympics done. If you don't, you can go on and have more opportunities to go and compete in this arena.
“It's nerve-wracking and we all felt that. You could feel it was competition day, it was a little bit quieter between the team, in the morning going to breakfast there wasn't as much talking as usual, but we've come out here and I feel like we've delivered, especially with the build-up.”
On the make-up of the team:
“A four-man team brings a nice dynamic because you really stay together. No doubt I'd prefer a five-man team, I'd always want more people to have the opportunity to come out to an Olympic Games, but a four-man team really does bring you quite close, especially because I'm the only person that's done an Olympics before.
“The guys were all making their debut today and the girls will tomorrow. I think the excitement's a little bit higher.
“Everyone's got that feeling of 'we're going to become Olympians' and they are massively positive, so it's definitely a nice team to be around.”
On being in a leadership role:
“I'm actually loving the role. I don't try to forcefully put myself into that. The boys ask a lot in terms of comparisons from previous Olympic Games compared to this one, so I'm obviously happy to give that insight and hopefully I can help them in any way possible, and I think it's also a time where I'm learning a lot from them as well.
“It's been a crazy time through Covid and everyone's had to be so flexible, to change quickly and to be adaptable and really work with the times.”
On his barbering exploits for the team:
“It's Whitlock Barbers! I think I've had quite a few happy customers and I'm improving, I'm getting better which is good!”
Joe Fraser
Age: 22 Hometown: West Midlands: Birmingham
Result: Scored 86.298 and qualifies for all-around final. Scored 15.400 and qualifies for parallel bars final. Helped Team GB score 256.594 points to qualify for the men’s team final.
On his performance:
“I was definitely happy with what I put out today. I know there are areas where I need to improve like the vault and the high bar.
“I definitely know I can get more out of them in terms of scores, so fingers crossed we make the team final and that I helped the team towards it. Now it's back to the gym tomorrow and some rest and recovery tonight.
On the pressure of being a world champion [on parallel bars in 2019]:
“I try not to think about it really. For me it's always been a case of delivering on routine after routine, and qualification as Max always says is the hardest day to deliver on, so that's the first obstacle and fingers crossed I've made that parallel bars final.
“But like I say, rest and recovery tonight, and then once we find out where everyone is after the third sub-division then we can move forward from there.
On a good luck message from Louis Smith:
“It's incredible, honestly. I woke up this morning and Louis had sent me a message wishing me luck, which is always pretty cool when it's someone that you've looked up to as a young boy, and now they're wishing you luck.
“It filled me with confidence and I just went out there and gave it my all, as I always have and I always will."
Equestrian
Comments from Team GB’s equestrian athletes after today’s dressage qualifying at the Tokyo Equestrian Park
Charlotte Fry on Everdale
Age: 25 Hometown: North Yorkshire: Scarborough
Result: Scored 77.096% to top Group A in qualifying and reach Wednesday’s individual final (Grand Prix Freestyle)
On her performance:
“I was really, really happy with it. It couldn't have gone much better today and Everdale was really with me and he was concentrating so hard.
“I think at the end he even got a shock that there was people watching because he was concentrating so much! I was really, really happy with my ride.
“He [Everdale] definitely knew it was a big occasion. He's been so concentrated the whole day today. He knew it was coming. He's so intelligent.
“As soon as he went into the arena, he was just concentrating on me so hard. At the end, he did really get a shock that people were watching him; he was just so focussed on me. It was such a great feeling.
“I was so happy with a lot of it, things like how calm he was in the extended walk, the extended trot, the extended canter, the canter pirouettes. A lot of things I think I was really happy with today.
On being in a dressage team with Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin:
“It's been so fun and I really feel like I'm on such a great team. Everyone really gets on and supports each other so much and we have so much fun together. It’s amazing, I love it.
“I'm so grateful to Carl for finding me opportunities and kind of nurturing my career. I think it's really special to be on a team with him as well.
“I can't really describe it but it's a really special thing.”
Carl Hester on En Vogue
Age: 54 Hometown: Channel Islands: Sark
Result: Scored 75.124% to finish fourth in Group C in qualifying and must wait until three further groups go on Sunday to see if he will reach Wednesday’s individual final (Grand Prix Freestyle) as one of the top six non-automatic qualifiers with the highest scores. He currently lies second on that list.
On his performance:
“Vogue’s never done anything like this before, so this was enormous for him. He’s nervous, he’s hot and he was very on it warming up, but you know what, he was actually perfect in there – he walked, he halted.
“There were two fairly obvious mistakes in my two-tempis and my extend canter. Normally my canter work is my go-to for marks, he never normally seems to make mistakes in there, but I didn’t think he was going to answer so I just touched him too strongly with my leg and he shot forwards – you can see how sensitive he is.
“I feel he’s better than the scores we had, but my aim was 75%+ and I achieved that, even with two mistakes, so I’m more than happy.”
On competing in a sixth Olympic Games as the oldest member of Team GB at Tokyo 2020:
“My sixth Olympics feels so much worse than the ones before it – number one was basically a holiday, two was a holiday, three was a holiday, then four, five and six have had all the pressure to get the scores for the team!
“On the other hand, now I’ve done it, I feel great – I’ve ordered a pizza for 11 o’clock!”
Ends
For the Tokyo 2020 Team GB Media Guide and Media Officer contacts please click here.
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