Comments from Team GB athletes after today's morning events at Tokyo 2020
Boxing
Comments from Team GB boxer Frazer Clarke following his 4-1 (points) victory over Ukraine’s Tsotne Rogava in the Men’s Super Heavyweight (+91kg) Round of 16. Clarke is making his Olympic debut for Team GB in Tokyo.
Frazer Clarke
Age: 29 Hometown: Staffordshire: Burton
On the seven-day wait to compete
“It’s a great feeling. Waiting is something I’ve become very good at so seven days wasn’t too long to be honest.
“I was itching to get in there, I even had to ease back on the training because I was so keen to let
my hands go.“I had a couple of days off before this fight and it served me well. Once I got into the ring, I was ready to go."
On supporting his fellow Team GB boxers
“I try my best. When I can get here to watch the others perform, when it’s not going to affect my performance, I’ll be here.
“It’s the type of character I am, I feel like that represents Team GB boxing and Team GB as a whole.
“If you come out of the Village, there are a lot of good atmospheres and spirits but I firmly believe that ours is very unique.”
Hockey
Comments from Team GB hockey player Sam Ward after their 2-2 draw with Netherlands in Men's Pool B. Team GB came from 2-0 down with Ward scoring twice, a result that confirms their place in the quarter-finals. They finish their group campaign against Belgium tomorrow.
Sam Ward
Age: 30 Hometown: Leicester
On what changed in the second half
“I would not say anything changed, we rode the pressure in the first half and the Dutch are a great side. They played some good hockey but in the end our fitness came through.
“I think whenever you come back from the loss we had the other night, losing 5-1 to the Germans, is good. We managed to put in a performance and make ourselves proud.”
On the knock-out rounds
“It guarantees us a quarter-final spot now. The draw is massive for us and it just shows the strength of the position and what is going on, anyone can beat anyone.
“I think it shows some days you can grind out the work rate and that is what shone through in the end.”
On their form
“I think we are building into the tournament, we had two cracking results. We got a bit of a pumping but sometimes you need a slap in the face. We got what we needed and today we have gone out there and put in a good position.”
BMX Racing
Comments from Team GB BMX Racing cyclists Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte after today's quarter-finals at Ariake Urban Sports Park.
Bethany Shriever
Age: 22 Hometown: London: Leytonstone
Result: Won Heat 3 with five points after finishing first in Run 1, first in Run 2 and third in Run 3. Competes in the semi-finals tomorrow.
On her quarter-final
“I am very very pleased, I just wanted to take each race as it comes, give it everything I have got and I did that.”
On the weather
“It is very hot, it is very different to what we are used to back in Manchester. But we prepared for it in the best way that we can, we have been doing heat chambers, I have been having hot baths everyday so I feel like I am prepared for it and just enjoying it really.”
On being an Olympian
“I think if you overthink it, it can get to you so I am just taking each race as it comes, enjoying myself, staying relaxed and when I am relaxed I am at my best. I am having a really good time.”
On whether she has confidence ahead of the semi-finals
“Definitely. It has helped a lot today and shows what I am capable of, I just need to show the same mentality, the same process in my head and get some great results to go along with it.”
On the course
“I think a lot of it can be won or lost on the thirds straight here, if you stay relaxed then races can be won. If you lose your head and start overthinking then you will make mistakes.
“As long as I keep my head and stay relaxed, I think I will be in a very good place.”
Kye Whyte
Age: 21 Hometown: London: Peckham
Result: Finished second in Heat 1 with nine points after coming third in Race 1, second in Race 2 and fourth in Race 3. Competes in the semi-finals tomorrow.
On his performance
“It was challenging, it was hot. The track is longer so it is more tiring but it has been a good day. I would have liked to have done better but it is good to get the nerves out of the way.
“Hopefully it will be better tomorrow.”
On finishing fourth in his third race
“I came out of the gate and I thought my back wheel skipped, I thought it was a mechanical problem but I just had a terrible start. I looked down to see if anything was wrong so I don’t end up crashing but it was fine so I got back into the groove and caught up to a qualifying position.
“I don’t want to be doing that tomorrow but it does happen."
On semi-final prospects
“I know if I am in a bad position I can catch up. I know if I get a bad start, I can get into the top three and I know if I get a good start, I can win. All three races were different and had all of those scenarios.
“Hopefully I can pull out a good start and make the final.”
On his family
“My dad is at home in Peckham. I think they put a massive screen up in the Peckham BMX Club with kids watching at 3am and stuff. I thank them.”
Rowing
Comments from Team GB’s rowers after today’s action at the Sea Forest Waterway in Tokyo
Helen Glover
Age: 35 Hometown: Cornwall: Penzance
Result: Finished fourth alongside Polly Swann in the women’s pair final, 2.86s behind bronze medallists Canada in a race won by New Zealand. The two-time Olympic champion only returned to rowing this season after retiring following Rio 2016 to have three children.
Reflection on her comeback after finishing fourth in an Olympic final
“For both of us [Glover and Swann], this has always felt like a journey more than anything we’ve done.
“We even look at the route to getting on to the start line of the final and how many crews fall by the wayside – you can never say a place in the final isn’t exciting.
“The journey not only during this regatta to get to this final but the journey for the last year for both of us is just one that we’ll look back on.
“When you’re in the moment of it and the day-to-day grind, you’re nervous of only having one year, it feels so immediate.
“I think I’ll look back in a few years and go ‘how the f- did I do that. What was that year about?'
“Everyone will remember the year of the pandemic for their own reasons. Me looking back, I’ll think that’s the thing that took me to another Olympics.”
On their preparation compared to other crews
“Last night we were running through each of the crews in the final – their form, what they did at the 2019 Worlds, what they did at the Europeans earlier this year.
“It made me realise, I was breastfeeding the twins three months ago – that’s where I was. And we were talking about who won the World Cup three months ago!
“The approach to our build-up to getting on to the line hasn’t been built on five years of results, it’s been weeks and months of playing catch-up – working out what is possible in the timeframe."
On what she hopes her children take from her Olympic experience
“Whether they remember it or not – they were there from the very first strokes of this journey and they were in my mind on the final strokes.
“My ambition for them to take home from this would be, in the future – take the risks, take the chances with no fear of failure – just excitement. Yes, results, but the journey.
“Your perspective changes when you have children and my perspective is what effect and impact I can have.
“What does this journey mean and where does it lead to, rather than just a result that’s a dot in the timeline of your life."
On what’s next
“I never think past the finish line, so I’m looking forward to going home and spending some down time but Polly [who is a junior doctor] is basically back in the hospital next week!
“In Rio, I said it was my last Olympics and this time I’m saying ‘this is definitely it.’ Everyone around me keeps saying ‘no, no, you’re definitely going to do the single’!
“I definitely don’t see myself coming back. It’s definitely not in the pipeline.”
Polly Swann
Age: 33 Hometown: Scotland: Edinburgh
Result: Finished fourth alongside Helen Glover in the women’s pair final, 2.86s behind bronze medallists Canada in a race won by New Zealand. Swann is a junior doctor who teamed up with Glover when Glover returned to rowing this season after retiring following Rio 2016 to have three children.
On their journey to reach this point
“Helen was looking after three kids, for me it was working in a hospital a year ago today. I don’t think there are many Olympic athletes that can say these things and be in a final."
On the performance
“We certainly fought our all to try and get on to that podium. I can’t fault our determination for that.
“Moreso the way we fought every day in training. We got into the boat together in March and every day since then has been pushing each other to the limit.
“I think we’ve worked exceptionally well doing that, we’ve worked well as a team – that’s what drives me, that’s my motivation and me and Helen as a team have done something special together."
On returning to work for the NHS next week
“It’s at Borders General Hospital and I’m looking forward to having a new team behind me and seeing what I can do.
“I’ve always been tempted to do a Helen Glover and do a bit of a rowing comeback. Maybe one year to work, one year to have a baby, one year to come back – we’ll see!”
Imogen Grant
Age: 25 Hometown: Cambridgeshire: Cambridge
Result: Finished fourth alongside Emily Craig in the lightweight women’s double sculls final, just 0.01s behind bronze medallists Netherlands in a photo finish and only 0.50s behind gold medallists Italy.
Reflections on the final
“We knew it was going to be tight – three crews yesterday [in the semi-finals] rowed faster than the world-best time and the world-best time that was set yesterday was six seconds faster than it was two months ago.
“That really reflected on the quality of all the crews in that event.
“There are six crews and I think we all deserved a medal! It was about who was able to get it just right on the day. We were pretty close but I think we did everything we could.
“We left everything out there and obviously it was pretty gutting to not be coming away with a medal around our necks – I’m sure us and plenty of other people had hoped for that to be the case.
On what’s next
“For both of us, there’s a bit of decompression, rest, recovery. It’s been a very full-on couple of years which has been incredibly stressful for both of us.
“I’ve got a medical degree to finish and Emily’s got some time away from the sport planned. I’ve got two more years of my medical degree. My course starts on the 9th August, so I’ve got about a week!
“When the dust has settled, it’s considering what the next steps might be. All of the lightweights have been given a bit of a lifeline in lightweight rowing staying in the Paris 2024 programme.
“That’s definitely in my sights. I’m not done with rowing yet, that’s for sure!”
Swimming
Comments from Team GB swimmers after today’s events at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre
James Wilby
Age: 27 Hometown: Scotland: Glasgow
Result: Finished sixth in a time of 2:08.19 in the Men’s 200m breaststroke final
On his performance
“I am disappointed. It was a pretty strong race, physically and mentally. It is what it is. If that’s my last swim here at the Games, I have a job to do supporting others.
“There are some people coming up who I train with and am very close with. I want to be there to help wherever I can with them.
“If I get a chance to swim again, I’ll be there and I’ll be ready to put this behind me and move on and put in a good effort for the team.”
On his swimming journey
“My rise in swimming has been very unusual, not the norm. I’ve had to go with not paying attention to other people and focus on my own race.
“Unfortunately, those guys had a really good race and they put in a good show. They deserve the results they got. I’m just really disappointed that I wasn’t able to be up there with them and challenging for those medals.”
On the support of his mum
“Now you're going to get me emotional. My mum's been putting in such a shift for me over the last 27 years and that's probably been the main disappointment which is I know I've made her proud but I haven't quite won the medal I would liked to have won for her.
“She's been working as a nurse, giving out vaccines recently, to an extent which makes me so proud of her and for what's she done for me and my brother over the last quite a few years.
“I'm really, really happy with what she's done. She's the role model in all this, I hope she enjoyed watching that.”
Luke Greenbank
Age: 23 Hometown: Cumbria: Cockermouth
Result: First in a time of 1:54.98 in his Men’s 200m backstroke semi-final, to qualify second fastest for the final, which takes place on Friday
On the success of Adam Peaty and Tom Dean
“Once we got that first medal [Peaty], it really boosted morale in the camp. Everyone’s really motivated, we all get behind each other and we really want to see each other do well.
“That’s had a huge impact on the more recent performances.
“Hopefully we’ll have a bit of a celebration when we get back. But we’re not finished yet, we’ve got to keep our heads in focus right until the last day.”
On the schedule
“It’s a unique situation that we’ve got here with morning finals. But you’ve got to just live with it, really. It’s not a great situation, and not the way I would have it if things were perfect, but life’s not perfect and you’ve got to deal with it.
“You’ve got to go back, maximise your rest, maximise your recovery. I like to keep my mind off swimming a little bit, but the fact we’re in the Village and sharing with other people, really helps with that social side of it.
“We can bounce off each other quite well. Mood in camp is really high so it makes things a lot easier."
On his Village arrangements
“I’m sharing with Jacob Whittle, he’s still about a foot taller than me and seven years younger.”
On having long hair
“I only started growing it about two years ago, it just happened to coincide with me swimming better, so there’s a bit of a joke that it’s superstitious.
“I don’t believe in that – but I’ll keep it for a while, just in case.”
Alys Thomas
Age: 30 Hometown: Wales: Swansea
Result: Seventh in a time of 2:07.90 in the Women’s 200m butterfly final
On her performance
“It was really good. I’m just really pleased I managed to get a seven in there, seventh and a 2:07 so I improved my place and I improved my time, so I’m really pleased with that.
“It means the world to me to be in an Olympic final, I could feel some emotion after the race and I could in the warm-up, I was just trying to keep a steady head, tried to approach it in a different way, treating the race as four lots of 50m, just doing my thing, instead of looking at the whole 200.
“I think that helped a little bit, breaking it down instead of looking at it as a race.
“It maybe helped being in lane eight, I couldn’t see the rest of the field and I could just do my thing.
“I couldn’t have asked for more from myself today. That’s where it is, that’s where I am and I’m just pleased I moved it on from yesterday and the day before.”
On being at the Olympic Games
“It’s a cliché but it’s a childhood dream come true for me. Being 30, I’ve waited a long time for my moment.
“I would have liked to have been fighting for the medals, I did my most in that moment to get there and it’s a stacked field, 200m butterfly is tough.
“I always want more but I’ve got to be satisfied and I’m really proud of myself today.”
Abbie Wood
Age: 22 Hometown: Derbyshire: Buxton
Result: Fourth in a time of 2:22.34 in the semi-final to qualify for the Women’s 200m breaststroke final, which takes place on Friday
On reaching the Olympic final, a day after finishing fourth in the Women’s 200m Individual Medley final
“After yesterday, coming back off that [fourth place] it was so hard to turn it around into an event that I’m just as strong as the next day.
“I was really lucky to make it through into the semi-final, I just scraped in in 15th. I definitely thought I hadn’t made it, I came seventh in the heat so really thought it was over, I was just so happy to get a second chance.
“I knew I had to be a bit of an outside burner this morning. I’m really happy with that and it’s a solid time for me, particularly for a morning."
On picking herself back up
“Yesterday was so hard. I was very demotivated, I’m not going to sugar-coat it – it is the harshest thing that can happen in sport, coming fourth at an Olympic Games.
“This morning, I thought the worst had happened and that it can’t get any harder than this.
“I just really put everything into this morning and hopefully I can do the same again tomorrow."
Molly Renshaw
Age: 25 Hometown: Nottinghamshire: Mansfield
Result: Third in a time of 2:22.70 in her semi-final to progress to the Women’s 200m breaststroke final, which takes place tomorrow
On the performance
“I went out pretty well, struggled a little bit down the last 50 so hopefully we can improve on that tomorrow.”
“I went out trying to be brave and keeping up with Lilly [King] because I know that she goes out fast. I tried to stick with her and then down the last 50, everything seemed to go a bit numb.
“Tomorrow the focus needs to be on keeping the technique strong and hopefully that will bring me home faster.”
On the success of the British team
“The team in general is just doing amazing, with three golds already. We’ve already smashed any performance we’ve had in a very long time. I’m planning on riding along the ride with the team.
“There have been so many highs and lows, I think I’ve cried every day with happy tears and sad tears. Yesterday I was glad to get going and hopefully tomorrow I can push it on again.”
Duncan Scott
Age: 24 Hometown: Scotland: Glasgow
Result: Won his semi-final in a time of 1:56.69 to qualify for the Men’s 200m Individual Medley final, which takes place tomorrow
On how he feels after a busy schedule
“I’ve done plenty of competitions with harder schedules. Europeans was a really good preparation for this, that was seven 200m races in around two or three days, I’ve trained for it.
“That’s me out of my toughest block now. After yesterday morning, last night and this morning, I’ve got this afternoon to chill out and come back again tomorrow morning.
On managing the emotions
“I’ve learned not to make the highs too high and try to minimise the lows as well. At the end of the week, that’s when I enjoy myself and relax, but also look at how the week has gone and analyse every swim.
“It was important after the 200m freestyle to park it and move on. There was a 4x200m coming up where we had a great opportunity – I’m still gutted about that world record – and then I had to park that and get ready for the 200m IM heats.
“It’s about trying to keep quite neutral throughout the week, you do get carried away with some of them and watching the teammates as well when they’ve been phenomenal.
“It’s something I’ve been able to do over the past three or four years and get better at it.”
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