Tokyo 2020 : Day 9

Cycling Comments from Team GB BMX freestyle cyclists Charlotte Worthington and Declan Brooks. Worthington won gold in the women's competition with a score of 97.50, becoming the first woman to land a 360 backflip in competition. Brooks won bronze in the men's competition with a score of 90.90, Australia's Logan Martin took gold. Charlotte Worthington Age: 25 Hometown: Manchester On her performance and 360 backflip trick, a world first. She fell attempting it on her first run "I just didn't put too much pressure on myself, I didn't watch any other runs. "It's a women's first and it was definitely a gamble and it's amazing when gambles pay off. "I've been working on it for a few months, I like to keep my cards close to my chest as it pays off in these situations. "It's been gold medal or nothing this whole journey - it's go big or go home. I've learned competing that if you gamble and give yourself that chance, it will pay off better than if you hold back and wonder what could have been. "I just wanted to give myself the best chance of landing it, I've been all in since doing that trick and there was no way I wasn't going to try it. It was a huge relief, I sort of zoned out for the rest of the run. "On my first attempt, I was too giddy and I rushed it and wasn't prepared for the landing.” On the fall in the first run “My arm was a little sore but there was so much adrenaline, all I was thinking about was the next run. I was still smiling. “Our mantra has been to breathe. I know I can do these tricks but mentally you need your head to be calm enough to land them.” On team-mate Declan Brooks “We spend a lot of time living in each other’s pocket and we really complement each other. He's very level-headed and there are times he has really calmed me down. I'm so grateful he's part of the team." On moving from working as a chef in Chorlton to the Olympic team “When I was working in the restaurant, BMX wasn't in the Olympics. This was just my passion. I love extreme sport and anything with wheels I'm up for. Then I met some people from British Cycling and it all snowballed into this amazing journey.” Declan Brooks Age: 25, Hometown: Portsmouth On his crash on the World Championships in June that left him unconscious “I crashed on a double back flip and it was sitting at the back of my head. When I landed that perfectly it felt great. “I crashed at the World Championships and knocked myself out. I was unconscious for a while and I hurt my shoulder. I had ten days off because of the protocols and thankfully my shoulder got better, we just had to make sure I was mentally and physically ready for this. “When I started out this journey of riding BMXs 15 years ago I never thought it would be in the Olympic Games.” On Charlotte’s gold medal “That was unbelievable. I knew she could do it, that's such a hard score it would have been hard to anyone to beat that and I'm super proud of her. “It was hard to switch my focus back to me, we've been working on what would happen in that situation. I went crazy when she got the gold but then I got back in my zone and focussed on my riding. “Charlotte did her job and then it was down to me.” Swimming Comments from the Team GB silver medal-winning 4x100 medley relay team following today's final events at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Duncan Scott Age: 24 Hometown: Glasgow On becoming the first Team GB athlete, in any sport, to win four medals at one Games “It’s probably not properly settled in. Each race I've tried to park when it’s done and look forward to the next one. “It was important I didn't bring in any disappointment or get too excited about what’s happened. “It’s a fresh start again with a really good relay team. I’ve been part of the 4x200m, winning that and being part of this and a silver medal. “I think the relay culture in Britain is great. There are great medal opportunities, I think we have done that really well at these Games but also previous medal opportunities over the last few years. “I've got to give massive credit to my teammates.” Adam Peaty Age: 26 Hometown: Uttoxeter On how silver will drive Team GB’s swimmers forward to Paris 2024 "“They [United States, gold medallists] stepped up big time. They knew they had to step up big time. We tried to do the best individual races that we could to have a great team effort – we did that – it’s an Olympic silver and people would die for that. “We will enjoy it but there is a little bit of pain there. Maybe you need that. Maybe you need that going to Paris. “Now is the time for rest recover and celebration because we have had the best Games we have ever had as a British swimming team. It’s great to part of that and to contribute to that." Boxing Comments from Team GB boxer Frazer Clarke following his bout at the Kokugikan Arena. Frazer Clarke Age: 29 Hometown: Derbyshire: Burton-on-Trent Result: Guaranteed at least a bronze medal after his men's superheavyweight (+91kg) quarter-final bout against Mourad Aliev ended with the Frenchman being disqualified. On the disqualification “In the heat of the moment, it's all a bit confusing. Obviously the referee stopped the fight, deeming that the Frenchman used his head. “During the battle, it's all happening very quickly, all I was concerned about was getting back on with the job. “The referee has made his decision, that's what he's there to do. There are a bunch of great referees and officials here. “We have to believe in what they do and they've done whatever they deem to be correct.” On the fight itself leading up to the disqualification “It was a difficult fight, it was always going to be difficult. Me and Aliev, we boxed each other six weeks ago and he won but I've beaten him twice before. It's always a cagey affair. “I've got a lot of respect for him and the French national team as a whole - I've known them for a lot of years, all the coaches. There's no animosity between us. “Once he's calmed down, I'll go and shake his hand again and wish him the best for the future.” On the reason for the disqualification “I felt there was a couple of heads going in, to be honest. Whether it's intentional or not, I don't know. An orthodox boxing a southpaw – it often happens. “I'm not going to stand here and say he did it on purpose. I'm sure he wouldn't want to have finished the Olympics the way he has. “The referee has done his job and I'm in there to do mine.” Sailing Comments from Team GB sailor Giles Scott following the latest day of competition at Enoshima Yacht Harbour. Giles Scott Age: 34 Hometown: Cambridgeshire: Huntingdon Result: Guaranteed a medal in the Finn class ahead of the medal race. Won his sixth race of the week before finishing seventh to maintain top spot. On conditions/weather and how he faced them "It was good. We had 10 to 12 knots, great racing. Certainly no complaints from me "There’s been a few of us that have put together really good series this week so it hasn’t really opened itself up for any shenanigans so to speak towards the end of the week. "So I’m just focused on my racing, won a race and got a seventh, which I think guarantees me a medal which is an amazing spot to be in." On the importance of today's racing "I had to put in a good showing today, the guys are stacked up behind me and I’m not the only one whose been putting together an amazing series. "I think, go back four years and there’s probably three people that could have won the regatta with a day to spare. "To lead those guys out into the medal race you have to put together an amazing week and I’m grateful that I’ve managed to do that. "Probably have sailed the best week of my life I think and hopefully I can finish it off in a couple of days." Equestrian Comments from Team GB eventer Oliver Townend following today’s cross country event. All three British riders delivered clear runs within the time to take their dressage penalties through to tomorrow’s show jumping event. Team GB lead the team standings with 78.30. Oliver Townend Age: 38 Hometown: West Yorkshire: Huddersfield Result: Clear run within time to sit first in the individual standings with Ballaghmor Class, scoring 23.60 On the cross country “We know he’s special, anyone who watches eventing knows he’s special. He’s tough, he digs deep, early on I thought he was slightly away with me, and in a couple of places it felt like he was in control and I was not. “I sat behind him and tried to find good distances for him. Once I got into the course, I started picking up good, quick, big distances, almost racing distances to the straightforward fences and he answered beautifully." On what makes Ballaghmor Class so special “Pedigree. But mentality more than anything. He’s tough in every aspect of life. He’s quirky but he’s tough, and the bottom line is he wants to do his job more than most horses.” Athletics Comments from Team GB athletes following the latest session of athletics at the Olympic Stadium. Zharnel Hughes Age: 26 Hometown: Anguilla: The Valley Result: Disqualified for a false start in the men's 100m final On his false start "We went up on 'set', my left calf cramped up on me, and with the cramp I moved. "I feel as if I was in that final I would have definitely walked away with a medal. It was all in my control, unfortunately my calf cramped, and I moved. "I can't describe it, it hurts a lot, second time again. I am just disappointed." Tiffany Porter Age: 33 Hometown: USA: Ypsilanti Result: Finished fifth in semi-final 2 of the women’s 100m hurdles in a time of 12.86, missing out on qualification for the final On the race "It was definitely a blessing having my sister [Cindy Sember] here and to be able to experience this one last time with her. "Obviously, I would have preferred for things to go differently but that’s sport and I’m definitely going to hold my head up high every day knowing that every day of my career I put my best foot forward and I did it with integrity, so I can definitely rest on that." Cindy Sember Age: 26 Hometown: USA: Ypsilanti Result: Finished seventh in semi-final 3 of the women’s 100m Hurdles in a time of 12.76, missing out on qualification for the final On the race "It was fast, but to be fair I didn’t feel like myself and execute the race as I have been all season, so that’s a bit unfortunate, but to be in such a quick race and go against so many competitive girls was a blessing, and to be here with my sister [Tiffany Porter] again is just amazing, so I’m very grateful. "It’s the best thing you can experience. I mean we have no fans, no family, so to have my sister here is an amazing experience and I will never trade that." Tom Gale Age: 22 Hometown: Somerset: Bath Result: 11th in the men's high jump final with a best effort of 2.27m On his 11th-place finish "It's just frustrating, I’m in really good shape, I did everything I could to be in the best shape possible, and I feel like I let my family down, let my team down, by body just failed me a little bit. I had a knee operation last year, my knee is in agony, I can’t go up and down stairs right now, I rolled my ankle on my second jump. "I did everything I could to get in shape but I just couldn’t do enough. "It is what it is. I’m going to go to the next Olympics and I don’t want to sit there and watch a competition like that ever again and not be part of it. Hopefully I can come out next time and be one of the ones on the podium." Golf Comments from Team GB golfers Paul Casey and Tommy Fleetwood following the end of the men’s golf competition. Paul Casey Age: 44 Hometown: Surrey: Weybridge Result: Finished T3 in men’s golf after a final-round 68. Eliminated on the first extra hole in a seven-man play-off for bronze. After narrowly missing out on bronze “This is my first Olympics and it’s one of the things I have witnessed a lot this week. There is triumph and there is heartache, we have seen it in the village and in Team GB and now it’s on the golf course as well. “What a day, to play in the final group of the Olympics with Hideki [Matsuyama, home favourite] and Xander [Schauffele], the gold medallist, in Japan. It’s brilliant and that is one of the coolest rounds to be a part of. “I wish I had my driver working a bit better and I struggled but I battled hard and I am proud of how hard I worked and how much I squeezed out of my game. “I would have loved to have brought a medal home, not just for me but for Team GB. It would have been the ultimate. But the whole week has been phenomenal. “I have made friends and I can’t say enough good things.” On the Olympics “Village life is amazing, I am not sure I could it every week – it is just so different. Team GB are amazing and we take up an entire building in the village, we have a performance lodge down the road and so much heart, time and energy goes into proving the athletes with the best opportunity to accomplish their dreams.” Tommy Fleetwood Age: 30 Hometown: Merseyside: Southport Result: Finished T16 in men’s golf following a final-round 70. On his final round “Yesterday was a really nice high to have, it was probably my best round of the year and for it to come at the Olympics was great. I had a really nice time and it put me in contention. “I enjoyed finishing, going back to the village and sleeping but today was not my day. I did not play well enough or putt well enough so that’s disappointing. “If it is a regular event then I can say it’s progress I am making and I can honestly say things are looking better, my results are getting better. “It is just that you are only looking at three places at the Olympic Games. “It has been a great experience and my golf game has been positive, just not today.” On the Olympic experience “It has been amazing, it has been the best to come here and represent the nation and be a part of something that is so so huge with so many different people and talents. “They all share similar attitudes and it has been fantastic. From being here and being around this is not something I take for granted.” Hockey Comments from Team GB men's hockey players Sam Ward and Adam Dixon following the 3-1 quarter-final defeat to India. Sam Ward Age: 30 Hometown: Leicester On the post-match huddle “We said we were incredibly proud of one another, we have each other’s backs and no matter what happens, we’re all here and we’ll stick by each other from now on in." On the match “It’s just one of those days. The ball didn’t quite drop over the line, and the chances came, the nibbles didn’t go our way. “Some days, the luck is not with you and that’s how it fell today. “There are two sides of me right now. The more I talk about it, the more upset I’m getting but if you take a step back, I’m incredibly proud to have been here in the first place. “It’s one thing saying that but, at the end of the day, I’m here to perform with my teammates and do them proud. We came here to win a medal and unfortunately we weren’t able to do that.” On representing Team GB in Tokyo, after fearing he wouldn’t play hockey again following his eye injury “It’s an absolute honour to be out here, the biggest thing right now I can do – although I’m pretty cut up – is thank everyone in my family, my friends, my mum and dad, their support has just been incredible and I wouldn’t have been here at all if it wasn’t for them." Adam Dixon Age: 34 Hometown: Nottinghamshire: Newark-on-Trent On the post-match huddle “Danny [Kerry] just said how proud he was to be working with us and leading us through a somewhat-successful Olympic campaign. “I know we’re not going to come away with a medal but it’s nice, on a personal note, to have gone one step further than we did in Rio. “We learnt a few lessons from Rio: enjoy every single moment, enjoy every day, and I think that’s what we just tried to do. “We tried to enjoy each other’s company and throw everything at the games without fear of consequence. “I really felt that, even today, there was no pressure on us. Unfortunately it just wasn’t to be, I think we pushed, pushed, pushed but just wasn’t quite enough. “The message at the end of the game was very much supportive.” On the highs and lows of hockey “It’s really hard to hide emotions in that sort of context. It’s been a long five years, and it’s great to see that it means so much to people. “We’d have seen, if this Olympic Games didn’t happen, how tough it would have been for people to take. This is the pinnacle for us as hockey players. “Of course it’s going to hurt if you don’t quite achieve your dreams and ambitions. It’s a tough day but elite sport is cruel. You’ve got to be able to take the losses just as well as you take the wins. “Hopefully the group just use this as a springboard to go on and use it as motivation to do something better.” Weightlifting Comments from Team GB weightlifter Emily Muskett after she topped Group B in the women’s 76kg category and finished seventh in the final standings. She lifted 98kg in the snatch phase before clean and jerking 124kg for a total of 222kg at the Tokyo International Forum. Emily Muskett Age: 31 Hometown: Kent: Farnborough On her feelings about the performance “I’m super, super relieved with that performance. It’s been a really tough 18 months, not just because of Covid – just to get through the competition in one piece, I was just so happy and relieved. “I’m glad I stuck at it. I was that close to not doing the competition because my training has been such a struggle. “I’ve got these demons in my head and I just couldn’t commit to the lifts in the training hall, so it’s great to get through the competition. “You saw on one of my attempts, those demons come through a little bit but I fought through it and nailed that last lift [124kg in the clean and jerk]. “I’m just proud of myself and happy to have got through it. Topping Group B is a right result.”