Great Britain’s Katy Marchant, Sophie Capewell and Emma Finucane broke the world record on three occasions as they powered to Olympic gold in the women’s team sprint.
Earlier on Monday, GB’s Joe Clarke claimed a silver medal just minutes after team-mate Kimberley Woods won bronze in the chaotic kayak cross event.
The British team also collected a third triathlon medal, but were downgraded from silver to bronze in a dramatic photo finish to an exhilarating mixed relay race.
Simone Biles’ “redemption tour” concluded with another gymnastics medal, although the American superstar reminded fans she is not invincible during the balance beam and floor finals.
British trio change narrative with scintillating gold
With Britain having not qualified for the women’s team sprint since 2012, Marchant, Capewell and Finucane had expressed a desire to change the narrative around the event.
And they did not disappoint, lowering the world and Olympic marks twice on the way to the final as the fast conditions also allowed Germany and New Zealand to set new world marks in the first round.
Britain were behind on the splits after the first lap in the gold-medal race against New Zealand, but Capewell overturned that deficit before Finucane extended the lead on the last leg to secure GB’s first medal in the event.
It sparked emotional celebrations in the velodrome with Marchant, 31, kissing her two-year-old son Arthur at the side of the track while 25-year-old Capewell broke down into tears.
In qualifying for the men’s event Jack Carlin, Ed Lowe and Hamish Turnbull clocked the second-fastest time behind the Netherlands.
GB were also second-fastest in qualifying for the men’s team pursuit as Dan Bigham, Ethan Hayter, Ethan Vernon and Ollie Wood set a new British record to finish behind Australia on the timesheets.
Woods’ delight & redemption for Clarke
While it may not be an event for the purists, the chaotic kayak cross event proved hugely popular in front of packed grandstands on its Olympic debut.
And it also delivered more success for GB as reigning world champion Woods, 28, became the first British woman to win two Olympic medals in canoeing after also taking bronze in the women’s K1 category.
It was a “bittersweet” silver medal for Clarke, who won gold in the K1 in Rio in 2016, before being controversially overlooked for selection for the Tokyo Games three years ago.
The 31-year-old went into the men’s event as a heavy favourite, with three world titles to his name, but was caught up in traffic early on.
“It was bittersweet in some ways,” said Clarke. “I came for gold but got silver which I am very proud of.
“It was a bit of redemption after missing Tokyo and I think I have put that one to bed.”
GB win triathlon bronze in thrilling finale
After Alex Yee won the men’s triathlon race and Beth Potter claimed bronze in the women’s event, GB had high hopes for the mixed relay.
They led narrowly for much of the first three legs – featuring Yee, Georgia Taylor-Brown and Sam Dickinson – with Potter having a five-second advantage as she began the anchor leg.
She was caught on the bike by Germany’s Laura Lindemann and the USA’s Taylor Knibb, before battling to stay with them during the run, and was fractionally third as the trio turned into the home straight and sprinted for the line.
Lindemann held on for gold and although Potter and Knibb had the same time, the USA were given silver after officials reviewed the finish-line photo.
Biles misses fourth gold
US superstar Biles had already won three gold medals at these Games – in the team, all-around and vault events – and was hoping to add two more on day 10.
However, the 27-year-old fell off the beam to miss out on a medal for the first time in Paris.
The American lost her balance at the end of an aerial series and placed fifth as Italy’s Alice d’Amato won gold, with China’s Zhou Yaqin – who had been the top qualifier – taking silver.
Biles looked unhappy with the crowd after her routine, speaking animatedly to her coach and team-mate Sunisa Lee, but was all smiles as she re-emerged shortly after for the floor final.
She had been the top qualifier, but Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade took an early lead and Biles’ bid to usurp her fell just short as she paid the price for twice landing with both feet outside the floor area.
She still secured her 11th Olympic medal with a silver, while team-mate Jordan Chiles clinched bronze with the final routine.
GB quartet through to semi-finals
On a busy morning in the athletics, Alastair Chalmers made a desperate dive for the line to ensure he qualified for the semi-finals of the men’s 400m hurdles, while defending champion Karsten Warholm won his heat.
Jessie Knight also made a late lunge for the line in the women’s 400m hurdles to join GB team-mate Lina Nielsen in Tuesday’s semi-finals.
Lina’s twin sister Laviai qualified for the women’s 400m semi-finals and Amber Anning won her heat, although Victoria Ohuruogu must go through to the repechage round.
However, world indoor champion Molly Caudery and Holly Bradshaw were in tears after suffering surprise exits in pole vault qualifying.
GB’s Zharnel Hughes has withdrawn from the men’s 200m heats on Monday evening because of tightness in his hamstring.
Both Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita progressed to the women’s 200m final, while GB’s Keely Hodgkinson will go for gold in the women’s 800m final at 20:47.
