Team GB has secured its first gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, thanks to two Gloucestershire-based athletes.
The eventing team — made up of Laura Collett, Rosalind Canter and Tom McEwen — took home the gold, defending the title Team GB won in Tokyo in 2020.
They took an early lead after the opening dressage round, which saw Laura — who is from Cheltenham — and her horse London 52 set an Olympic record score; then they maintained a slim lead after a tricky cross-country course, where Rosalind picked up a penalty.
Laura was the last of the trio to take part in the final show jumping round on Monday 29 July 2024, claiming a winning score of 91.30 — a whopping 12.30 points ahead of silver — securing the top spot for Team GB.
She said: 'I’m on top of the world. I’ve never, ever ridden into an atmosphere like that. Luckily London is one trusty partner. So are my teammates as well, we brought it home.'
Teammate Tom — who is based on the Gatcombe Estate in Gloucestershire — described her performance as 'poetry in motion'.
She went on to score a bronze medal in the individual eventing later in the day, with Tom narrowly missing out on a podium place, finishing in fourth.
Gloucester Quays is showing the Olympics action on its big screen throughout the games.
