Team GB Aims To Continue Olympic Gold Rush
Team GB is seeking further gold medal-winning performances after cyclist Bradley Wiggins’ record-breaking feat in the men’s time trial.
Four-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy begins his London 2012 campaign as the action gets under way at the velodrome.
Sir Chris and Jason Kenny won team sprint gold in Beijing and are bidding to defend their title alongside newcomer Philip Hindes.
Victoria Pendleton, who is set to retire after the Games, will compete alongside Jess Varnish in the corresponding women’s event.
Britain will also chase more glory on the rowing lake at Eton Dorney after the women’s pair of Helen Glover and Heather Stanning delivered the first gold medal of the Games.
Richard and Peter Chambers, Rob Williams and Chris Bartley in the lightweight men’s four are strong contenders to finish on top of the podium.
Wiggins secured his position as an all-time British sporting great on Wednesday when he claimed a seventh Olympic medal, and revealed he was partying late into the night to celebrate.
He later posted photos of himself enjoying drinks near St Paul’s Cathedral on Twitter, saying: “Well what a day, blind drunk at the minute and overwhelmed with all the messages. Thank you everyone it’s been emotional X.”
The 32-year-old clinched gold just 10 days after an historic victory in the Tour de France.
After his gold medal ride, a fan stole his cycling shorts while he showered.
“It’s only a bit of cycling kit. But you don’t expect pilferers to do that in a five-star spa. Sweaty cycling kit is probably on eBay tonight,” he said.
Wiggins’ seventh medal takes him one clear of rower Sir Steve Redgrave, making him the most decorated British Olympian of all-time.
His delight at the conclusion of the 44km time-trial was shared by thousands of Union Flag-wielding supporters.
He said: “It’s really incredible to win an Olympic gold in your home city.
“When you win in the velodrome there are three or four thousand people cheering. Here, around the streets of London, the noise is just amazing. I don’t think anything will top that. It’s just been phenomenal.”
Wiggins’ success has led British cycling chief Dave Brailsford to calls for him to be knighted.
One bookmaker has paid out early on any bets placed on Wiggins winning BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Team GB is now 11th in the medal table with nine – two golds, three silvers and four bronze.
The tally is better than it was at the same point in the Beijing Games four years ago.
