Friday, August 6, 2021

Tokyo 2020 Flash Quotes: Day 14

Comments from Team GB athletes following events on day 14 in Tokyo.


Cycling


Comments from Team GB cyclists after today's events at the Izu Velodrome.


Laura Kenny

Age: 29 Hometown: Hertfordshire: Cheshunt

Result: Gold medallist in the women's Madison alongside Katie Archibald to become the first British woman to win golds at three separate Olympics and became Great Britain's most successful female Olympian.


On the race


"I really enjoyed it, I really did. I just think we

have worked so hard.

"I've been saying a couple of times in some of the interviews, the team pursuit seemed to consume this time, I was so nervous for it.

"I felt like I could only play a small part in that team pursuit and once it was over I just felt so excited."


On their margin of victory


"We were just in the right positions for the whole of the race, we are obviously a sprinting team, we are going to make points up by staying consistent in the sprints.

"We wanted to score in every single sprint and we couldn't let a move go without us. We were in every single move and I think that just helped us score."


Katie Archibald

Age: 27 Hometown: Scotland: Milngavie

Result: Gold medallist in the women's Madison alongside Laura Kenny


On tactics


"One of our main principles is that the further back you are, the more likely it is that something terrible is going to happen in front of you or something brilliant is going to happen way, way in front of you.

"You have got invest to stay at the front so that you can make the big investment to win the points and I think that is why we stayed rubber side up."


On the Dutch rivalry


"The Dutch were the ones that we came into this race watching, they're two-time world champions, and one of the few races we did have was one where they were the main contenders and they were the people pushing us.

"They've been the team that you wake up with your heart racing thinking about them.

"It is unfortunate to see them come down and not be able to maybe contend maybe they way they could have.

"The Danish were exactly where we expected that was the biggest thing for me midway through the race was that that was an attacking team and the French are an attacking team.

"We didn't want to leave ourselves vulnerable going so big in the sprints and just being aware of your weaknesses means you can try and react quickly."


Jack Carlin

Age: 24 Hometown: Scotland: Paisley

Result: Bronze medallist in the men's sprint with a 2-0 win over Denis Dmitriev of the Russian Olympic Committee


On his performance


"I'm really proud to be fair, it has been a long year and having the extra year has benefited me.

"I finished 20th last time in the Worlds and I've just had so much belief put into me from family, friends, staff. It's just good to have something to show for it.

"It's been a long five years and it is not always going to be easy but I am just so happy to be here and it is back home tonight, get the legs up and give the keirin a good go and see what I can do there as well.

"This is the pinnacle of what we train five years for and every one of us has given everything they could today and I am one of the lucky ones to walk away with a medal."


On getting a medal in the individual compared to team silver


"I think I would rather take a medal in the team with the boys every day of the week.

"I love the team side of the things and I love winning with the team, and celebrating with the team.

"I think this was my own battle in my head and I gave everything for the team. I've focused so heavily on the team for the last five years and I got given more of a focus this time around on the individual in the last year with the pandemic."


Katy Marchant

Age: 28 Hometown: Leeds

Result: Qualified for the Women's Sprint 1/8 finals, having qualified eighth fastest before beating Yuka Kobayashi in the 1/32 finals and Wai Sze Lee in the 1/16 finals


On improving as the day went on


"I wasn't 100% sure how I was feeling this morning, I am a little bit battered and bruised, but the legs are feeling good so just riding through the rounds now and hopefully after another night's sleep I'll feel even better tomorrow."


Breaking her British record in qualifying


"It would have been nice to go a little bit quicker but after yesterday and feeling the way that I am feeling I was really happy to do a PB this morning, you can't really ask for much more than that."


On her confidence


"I've got confidence in my legs and it was really nice to just beat Sze Lee there, she is a very good tactical rider and I think I managed to get the better of her there, so that is a massive confidence boost going into tomorrow."


Modern Pentathlon


Kate French

Age: 30 Hometown: Kent: Meopham


On winning Olympic gold


“Winning Olympic gold has been on my mind for a long time. It has always been a dream and I cannot believe it has come true.

“I just thought I cannot believe I have done it when I crossed the line. That was all – and that it was very hot.

“I really tried to stick to my plan and stay focussed. I knew I could be in contention but I tried not to think too much about getting a medal.

“I was holding it together okay until I rang my husband, that was quite emotional

“I can’t believe I am the champion."


On the jumping discipline


“To be honest, when I first got on the horse it wasn’t the kind of horse I like riding! My riding instructor had to really get after me to ride it forward.

“She gave me confidence on how to ride the horse. We worked well together in the end. I like more of a forward-going horse.

“This one was one I had to get after a bit more. I really enjoyed the riding. I couldn’t have been happier with that.”


Athletics


Laura Muir

Age: 28 Hometown: Scotland: Milnathort

Result: Silver medallist in the women's 1500m in a national record time of 3:54.50.


On winning silver

     

"I honestly can’t put it into words. Missing out in global finals since 2015, coming fourth, fifth twice, sixth and seventh, and then for my first global medal not only to be an Olympic one but a silver and against the calibre of that field as well, and a British record just to top it off too, I couldn’t be happier."

     

On her emotions


"I knew I was going to cry whether I did or didn’t get a medal, it was always going to end in tears, so I’m just so happy it was happy tears.

"There’s been a lot of sad tears in the past few years so it’s just so great that I’ve finally got this and I think obviously after Covid and everything being delayed, it’s such a huge relief to have got a medal against everything that’s happened."


On the differences since Rio

     

"I’m such a different runner now to what I was then [at Rio 2016], physiologically I just couldn’t deal with it, mentally I was going to go with it but my body just couldn’t cope whereas this year I’ve prepared for it, I’m 100% fit.

"In past years I haven’t been 100% and I think that showed in coming fourth and fifth in things, but this year no interruptions.

"This is what I’m capable of and I’m just so happy that I was able to go out there and deliver what I feel I’m capable of doing."


The men's 4x100m relay team of CJ Ujah, Zharnel Hughes, Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake won silver in a time of 37.51 seconds

     

CJ Ujah

Age: 27 Hometown: London: Enfield


On winning a medal for Team GB

     

"It’s amazing – every time we step out and put on these colours for our country it’s an honour and we can’t be more blessed.

"It’s amazing to go out into the finals and get a medal.

"Every major championships since the last Olympic Games we have won a medal and we’re probably the most decorated team when it comes to 4x100m over the last cycle. 

"We’re showing consistency and in years to come I know we will improve our national record and more so just watch out for us.

"It’s a growing team and a young squad and I am proud of these guys."

     

Zharnel Hughes

Age: 26 Hometown: Anguilla: The Valley


On winning silver


"Can I just say that tomorrow we are on the podium! That’s all I have to say. We are so grateful for that."


Richard Kilty

Age: 31 Hometown: Durham: Stockton-on-Tees


On the performance


"We smashed it – it was the third fastest time we’ve ever run as a quartet, the guys were solid, we pulled it out the bag from yesterday.

"We’re Olympic silver medallists and we’re over the moon. We wanted to win but we’ll take that silver.

"It’s an Olympic Games - it’s as big as it gets and it's one of the best moments of our lives no matter what way we look at it."

     

Nethaneel Mitchell Blake

Age: 27 Hometown: London: Newham


On his bid for gold

     

"We’ve spoilt ourselves in the past with getting victory and that’s an addictive feeling. The guys did a phenomenal job putting me in the lead and I just wasn’t able to hold on but it was a competitive time and we can walk away with an Olympic silver medal and that’s not to be frowned upon at all.

"I’m happy that we’re able to put another medal on the tally for GB and hopefully the country are proud of us."

     

The women's 4x100m relay team of Asha Philip, Imani-Lara Lansiquot, Dina Asher-Smith, Daryll Neita won bronze in a time of 41.88


Asha Philip  

Age: 30 Hometown: London: Leyton

     

On the first change

     

"We just obviously want to make a scene – we’re not just going to give you something nice, we want you to have pressure, we’re entertainers."


Imani-Lara Lansiquot

Age: 23 Hometown: London: Peckham

     

On a close call with the first changeover


"It’s a championships, anything goes, and we’re fully prepared for any situation, any outcome.

"Asha and I have great chemistry, we’re training partners, I was absolutely getting that baton.

"Of course we can always improve, we’re all competitors and we know that we can be better, but we’ve got the medal and that’s the most important thing.

"This is part of the legacy that we started in 2016 and will continue to go, so we’re really, really proud right now."


Dina Asher-Smith  

Age: 25 Hometown: London: Orpington


On her journey


"I was on crutches six weeks ago and there was a 10% chance – less than 10% chance – that I was going to be here. I’ve worked incredibly hard, straining my knee, straining my knee, strengthening my hamstring, letting it heal, and to come away with a medal here is honestly something that I could not have even contemplated six weeks ago, seven weeks ago, not at all, so thank you so much ladies.

"It means a lot. You know when you forget what you’ve been through? It does mean a lot.

"At the end of the day, I knew that what actually hurt so much about the 100 and 200 is that all I need is another week, two weeks, and then I’ll literally be back to my normal speed.

"I’m obviously moving faster here and yesterday than I was last week but that’s obviously how recovery from these things goes.

"Every day there’s progress, which I’ve seen physically, with my hamstring itself but also in terms of my form.

"You just improve every day so I knew we had another week till the relay, train train train, and make sure I was as fast as possible in the time that I had for these ladies."

     

Daryll Neita

Age: 24 Hometown: London: Camberwell


On her final leg


"I haven’t actually seen it. I was just patiently waiting to see Dina and she came flying into me as she would.

"I just did my best to bring it home for the girls and honestly we’ve worked so hard as a team, this medal means a lot to us, we’ve been through so much.

"I’m just super happy, it’s been an amazing Championships for me personally – first sub 11, made the Olympic final, now coming home with a bronze medal, I can’t really complain."


Andrew Butchart

Age: 29 Hometown: Scotland: Dunblane

Result: 11th in a time of 13:09.97 in the men's 1500m final


On the race


"It was hard that one, those boys were fast. I wanted to do better than that but I can’t really complain.

"It was fast and hard. I didn’t think it would go out from the gun considering the weather outside but hats off to those boys they pushed it.. they pushed it hard for me and I couldn’t keep up the pace.

"I wanted to do better than that – I want to always compete, tonight I didn’t really compete I was just in the race. So I am disappointed with that, but to say I’m a double finalist in the 5k for Britain is pretty rare so I have to take the positives from it."


Jodie Williams

Age: 27 Hometown: Hertfordshire: Welwyn Garden City

Result: Sixth in the women's 400m final in a personal best-equalling time of 49.97


On the final

     

"I went for it, I risked it, went out strong and I just didn’t have the legs in the end. This is my first ever final, first year doing the event, I was close.

"Right now I’m upset, but I think in hindsight I’ll be very proud of myself. Just making this final alone, in a new event, like I said before I’ve only run four 400s before this year, I stepped up this year and medalled indoors, and now I’m an Olympic finalist with two back-to-back 49s.

"I’ve pulled a performance out of the bag when it matters most every time, right now I’m just gutted that it wasn’t enough to get that medal that would have been just such a nice end to such a great season, but I really can’t be upset."

     

On the experience

     

"It’s been amazing, for us all to be here is so good. We’ve all been through a lot together here.

"Nobody knew if the Games would go ahead, it was obviously postponed for a year, so mentally it’s been tough, and to see the performances coming out of this has been incredibly inspiring for me.

"To see so many people doing well, it’s been amazing."


The men's 4x400m team of Cameron Chalmers, Joseph Brier, Lee Thompson and Michael Ohioze finished sixth in a time of 3:03.29 in heat 1, missing out on the final.

     

Cameron Chalmers

Age: 24 Hometown: Channel Islands: Guernsey

     

On the result


"The times show how high the standard is at the moment in this 4x400, and we’re not quite where we need to be obviously.

"Everyone gave it their best and everyone’s always going to do that in a Great Britain vest, but I definitely think this is a developmental squad and it’s an invaluable opportunity for us all to get to run here, and show us what we’re up against, and what we’re going to be up against over the coming years.

"I think that’s something to really go away with and keep firmly at the front of your mind when you’re working hard at winter training over the next few years to make Paris a success."

     

Joseph Brier

Age: 22 Hometown: Wales: Cardiff

     

On the race


"It was hard, I got the baton in a difficult position. I tried to get us back into the race. We were in it with about 100m to go but then I just blew.

"I worked too hard the first 300 to get us into a good position.

"Maybe I should have held off a bit but it is what it is. It’s done now. I gave it my all but unfortunately this time I didn’t pull it off."


On the experience

     

"It’s good experience for myself, it’s my first Games, my first outdoor major championships. I’ve done world juniors and European under 23s but that’s nothing compared to this.

"The guys we were racing were unbelievably fast, with 43-second runners in there."

     

Lee Thompson

Age: 23 Hometown: South Yorkshire: Sheffield


On the race


"It’s an Olympic Games so it’s the pinnacle of our sport. We’ve just got to learn how good it is at the top level and we all need to raise our game individually and come together as a group, to be fighting for those medals and get up to the top of the world, because that’s where we need to be and where we’ve always been in the past.

"We need to get back to being a feared country, a feared team, and we will do. Sometimes you just need that to learn and grow."


Michael Ohioze

Age: 26 Hometown: London: Barnet


On the Olympic experience

     

"It’s an experience of a lifetime, I thank god for the opportunity.

"I’ve had everybody, my friends, my family, my girlfriend all supporting me, which has allowed me to get here and do the best I can, and I put my heart and soul onto the track and did it for the boys, did it for the country.

"The result isn’t the best, disappointing, but at the end of the day we know what we need to do to move forward and be better, and that’s what we’re going to take from this.

"It’s a learning opportunity on the biggest stage. It’s something we’re going to use over the next couple of years to get us back here again and at the highest level."


Hockey


Comments from Team GB hockey players Laura Unsworth and Grace Balsdon after Team GB secured Olympic bronze with a 4-3 victory over India. Unsworth has now won three Olympic medals following bronze at London 2012 and gold at Rio 2016.

     

Laura Unsworth

Age: 33 Hometown: West Midlands: Sutton Coldfield

     

On winning bronze

     

"I’m speechless. I’m just so proud of every single one of the girls. We dug in so deep today and to come away with an Olympic bronze medal after the last five years, it’s such an achievement for this group of players and I’m so, so happy."

     

On whether the bronze means more than gold in Rio

     

"Out of all the cycles I’ve been part of, this has been my most challenging and as a team it has been our most challenging. It probably is up there with the Rio gold medal.

"The things we’ve had to overcome as a team, people don’t know about, but as a squad we’ve stuck together, we’ve been resilient, we fight and that was shown on the pitch today, that was GB."

     

On what three consecutive Olympic medals means to her

     

"You don’t really think about it as an athlete. I get to do it with 15 other girls right next to me and that’s the most special part of being in a team, you have everyone there with you for the ride, with the highs and the lows.

"But if someone had told me when I first started playing hockey when I was 11 that I would win three Olympic medals, I would have just looked at them and gone, 'You what?'.

"When I look back on my career I can look back and think it’s been pretty special."

     

Grace Balsdon

Age: 28 Hometown: Kent: Canterbury

     

On whether they panicked when they were 3-2 down

     

"No, we had talked about scenarios, we decided it is all about belief.  

"We saw in the men’s bronze-medal match how quickly it can turn - we stuck to our team plan. The minute you go down and go off script that's when you panic.

"We talked about just sticking to the game plan, finding little scoreboards for every win, so we tried to celebrate when we pressed and won the ball, try to celebrate that, and try to get momentum back and believe again."

     

On winning the bronze medal

     

"Extremely happy. We worked incredibly hard following time off during the pandemic, that hard work and heat chamber work, you can see how much it means to us how much we wanted it for each other - it's an unbelievable feeling and also slight relief that the hard work has paid off. It's an incredible feeling.

"We knew we had it in ourselves if we dug deep and played to our strengths.

"To get three medals in three successive Games is incredible - a special legacy to be part of."


Boxing


Comments from Team GB boxer Lauren Price, who is guaranteed at least a silver medal after winning 3-2 on points in her women's middleweight (69-75kg) semi-final against long-standing Dutch rival Nouchka Fontijn. Price will box for gold against China's Li Qian on Sunday.

     

Lauren Price

Age: 27 Hometown: Wales: Ystrad Mynach

     

On her performance

     

"To be honest, she [Fontijn] started a lot quicker than I thought she would. Going back to the previous fights she lost the first rounds, started a bit slow, so I didn’t expect her to come out that quick.

"Towards the end of that round I started to get my rhythm and was picking my shots. I was 3-2 down, which isn’t 5-0 so it is not too far."

     

On being deducted a point for 'excessive holding'

     

"It was one of them, getting a point off, I have been there a number of times, so it is nothing new to me. With our styles, she is tall and I am short, so it is always a bit of a scrap, quite close.

"I didn’t panic much about that, trust my corner, and I knew I had to give me all last round.

"I got into my rhythm and I felt I won the last round quite comfortably with my speed and movement. I am over the moon to be in the final."

     

On their rivalry with Fontijn (Price had won two of their previous six fights, including a controversial victory to take gold at the last World Championships)

     

"I respect her a lot, she is a world-class fighter, we know each other inside out and it is always going to be that close.

"She has retired now, she just said to me. I wish her happy retirement.

"It is always the same with me and her. I dug deep in that last round, happy days."

     

On the gold-medal bout and her opponent, China’s Li Qian

     

"It has been a dream of mine to get to the Olympic Games, become an Olympian, and to get a medal I can't quite believe it.

"I am into the final now and it is a dream come true. I am not stopping now – my aim is to win that gold. I am going to give it my all.

"She is a good girl. She won the worlds in India, we have never boxed each other.

"I think she is similar to my style – fast hands, fast feet. It is going to be an interesting one. She is world class, the top two seeds in the final."


Equestrian


Comments from Team GB jumpers Holly Smith (Denver), Harry Charles (Romeo 88) and Ben Maher (Explosion W) following the Jumping Team Qualifier at Equestrian Park. Team GB's trio qualified seventh with a penalty score of 20 and time of 241.50. The final takes place on Saturday.


Holly Smith

Age: 32 Hometown: Leicestershire: Wymeswold


On the performance


"I was absolutely delighted with the horse. Believe it or not, there's a bit of inexperience at this level and with us having not competed in the individual competition, it was quite something to go in there.

"I feel like neither have us have jumped in months. It's not that long but that's what it feels like.

"I'm really, really pleased with him, he answered every question and I'm delighted for the owners."


Harry Charles

Age: 22 Hometown: Hampshire: Alton


On the performance


"The score may not have been great but I'm very happy.

"After the round we had the other day and only finding out yesterday I was going to be in the team [following Scott Brash's withdrawal with Hello Jefferson], I had little preparation and the horse had already done two massive rounds.

"I had to give horse confidence today, I knew I wasn't going to go clear and the team knew that as well, so the result was pretty good.

"The first fault was pretty unlucky, the other two I was trying to move up for time.

"He ended very well, very confidently and his jump is super. No harm done."


Ben Maher

Age: 38 Hometown: Essex: Elsenham


On the performance


"I was happy with Explosion. It's always tough after a very fast round of jumping the other day and he's a horse that gets more careful the faster you go.

"Maybe there on the fault, I left him a bit on his own and I could help him a little bit more.

"I was told by Scott Brash before we went in that we had a bit of a margin to make tomorrow's final and that I could take it a little bit easier.

"It sounds crazy at this level of competition but I could give him a slightly easier round, if we had a mistake we could still make the final."


On the gap between winning individual jumping gold and the team qualifier


"It was a late night, and with the protocols, it was all a bit of a whirlwind.

"The team waited for me when we got back to the hotel, we got ten minutes [to celebrate] but still have jumping to do this week.

"It's about producing until the end here and hopefully we can enjoy ourselves next week."


On the celebrations


"I'll be looking forward to going home after tomorrow and sharing this with everyone who couldn't be here."


Diving


Comments from Team GB diver Tom Daley following today's men's 10m platform preliminary event at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

     

Tom Daley

Age: 27 Hometown: Devon: Plymouth

Result: Fourth with a score of 453.70 to qualify for tomorrow's semi-finals

     

On the performance

     

"Overall I’m happy to have qualified. The difference between qualifying in first and qualifying in 18th for a semi-final, I learned in Rio that you can win a prelim but you have to be able to consistently survive through the rounds to get to the final where it actually counts.

"My first dive wasn’t great but I’ve been feeling really good out there, I’m moving really well, the height of my dives is really good. I’m making everything really easily. I just have to make those micro adjustments.

"When, all of a sudden, you’re competing at the Olympic Games, there’s quite a lot of adrenaline.

"So being to handle that, once I got into the swing of it, it felt good to be out there and I’ve been having a lot of fun."

     

Golf


Comments from Team GB golfer Jodi Ewart Shadoff following today's third round at the Kasumigaseki Country Club. Leader Nelly Korda (USA) sits on 15 under.

     

Jodi Ewart Shadoff

Age: 33 Hometown: North Yorkshire: Middleham

Result: Shot a one under 70 to sit at one under par heading into the fourth and final round

     

On highlights of the round

       

"I had an eagle on five which was incredible. I hit some really good shots and pulled some good hits again.

"I probably left a couple shots out there but overall, the game is starting to look really good and I have a lot of confidence going into tomorrow's round."

     

On her eagle

     

"I had a great drive through with the tee up today so I hit a really solid drive down the middle of the fairway and I just knew I had to hit a really good 3-wood, and I did, put it to about 12, 15 foot and I managed to slide that one in so that was the highlight of the round."

     

On her aim for tomorrow

     

"I think I'm just going to go and work on the range a little bit on my irons. I think my mid to high irons got away from me a bit today but in general, just keep doing what I'm doing. I'm hitting the driver pretty well and overall doing everything pretty decent.

"There's a really low score out there and I think it's gettable tomorrow - as long as we play!"

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