- Team GB’s rowers have achieved an impressive total of six medals in Paris.
- Imogen Grant and Emily Craig powered through to capture gold on Friday morning.
- The duo narrowly missed a medal at the Tokyo Games, finishing just 0.01 seconds behind the podium.
Imogen Grant and Emily Craig secured gold for Team GB in the women’s double sculls at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Friday morning.
The pair, who finished fourth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, bounced back spectacularly to earn gold in Paris.
Having narrowly missed a podium finish in Tokyo by just 0.01 seconds, Grant and Craig used that painful experience to motivate their success in France.
Team GB has enjoyed a series of triumphs in rowing, with Lauren Henry, Hannah Scott, Lola Anderson, and Georgina Brayshaw clinching a remarkable victory in the women’s quadruple sculls on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Helen Glover, Esme Booth, Sam Redgrave, and Rebecca Shorten earned silver in the women’s coxless four, while Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne and Becky Wilde secured bronze in the women’s pair earlier that same day.
Emily Craig and Imogen Grant celebrating their gold medal victory at the 2024 Olympic Games.
The pair (left) missed a podium spot at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by 0.01 seconds.
As a result, Team GB now boasts a rowing medal tally of two bronze, two silver, and two gold across both men’s and women’s events, marking a fantastic start for British athletes at the Games.
After overcoming their disappointment from Tokyo, a jubilant Grant and Craig raised their arms in celebration before hugging on the jetty.
Romania took second place in the women’s double sculls, while Greece secured the final spot on the podium.
The British pair’s victory follows Oliver Wynne-Griffith and Tom George’s silver in the men’s double event earlier on Friday.
Following the Tokyo Games, Craig contemplated leaving rowing, saying it took time to reintegrate into the sport.
“Tokyo was meant to be a wonderful fairytale where we would win gold in a country I adore, but it turns out those fairytales don’t always come true. However, Paris has plenty of art too,” Craig shared with BBC Sport.
“It wasn’t until February of the following year that I knew I wanted to return and give it another shot,” she continued.
“For both of us, taking time away to find our self-worth outside of the sport was crucial to come back rejuvenated and tackle it with a fresh perspective.”
Meanwhile, Grant is preparing to begin her first job as a doctor in the days ahead.
Grant will begin her first role as a doctor soon, while Craig had considered retiring from rowing after Tokyo.
“Once the Olympics are over, I will be starting my foundation years in the Oxfordshire Deanery,” she told the BBC.
“This is my first foundation year where I will undergo several placements in medical wards, community settings, and surgical rotations. I won’t lie; I’m a bit anxious, but this is something I’ve worked towards for years.”
More updates to come…
