Alex Yee produced a stunning finish to claim a dramatic gold medal in the men’s triathlon on Wednesday as Great Britain’s women’s quadruple sculls broke Dutch hearts at the line to win gold on the water.

Yee had looked destined to settle for silver as he fell behind Hayden Wilder during the 10km run, only to find an extra gear to conjure a remarkable finish down the stretch to leave the New Zealander in his wake.

The race had initially been due to take place on Tuesday before being postponed due to concerns over bacteria levels in the River Seine, with Olympic organisers clearing the way for both the men’s and women’s events to go ahead in the early hours of Wednesday following improved results in water testing.

Wilder, who won bronze in Tokyo, looked on course for gold as he made an early move, before being dealt a ruthless reminder of Yee’s speed late in the final lap.

France’s Leo Bergere also earned a spot on the podium as he claimed bronze shortly after compatriot Cassandre Beaugrand had won gold in the women’s race.

“I still don’t really know what to say to be honest, I’m a bit lost for words and so grateful,” said Yee.

“At 5k I was going through a real bad patch and at 2.5k I thought – I’m going to give myself one last chance and not give up and here we are. I’m still a bit lost for words.

“I was just saying ‘anything can happen’. I’m still just that normal guy who works hard at my sport and loves what I’m doing. For me, it’s amazing that I can be in this position and I just believed it.”

GB women edge photo finish

There was further drama in the rowing when Great Britain’s women’s quadruple sculls crew dug deep to beat the Netherlands at the line for an incredible gold medal.

The quartet of Hannah Scott, Lola Anderson, Georgie Brayshaw, and Lauren Henry, who became world champions in 2023, turned on the afterburners over the final 250m to pip their rivals in a photo finish, winning it by a margin of 0.15 seconds.

“It has been a long time in the making and I still can’t quite believe it,” said Scott. “I don’t even know if I am emotional yet, that will come. We were so process-driven today, the immensity of what this is, it hasn’t come for me. I have just been trying to play it really cool.

“We kept it so cool until right at the end, we knew we had it, we had the confidence, we have done so many hard miles in training. For anyone out there, just go for it. If you think you can, you might just one day and that’s the really cool thing about the Olympics.”

Great Britain missed out on a men’s quadruple sculls medal with a fourth-placed finish behind the Netherlands, Italy and Poland.

Tom Barras, Graeme Thomas, Callum Dixon and Matthew Haywood were fourth at the first 500m marker and were unable to close the gap on their rivals.

The Netherlands took gold ahead of Italy and Poland, with the British crew just two seconds adrift of third spot.

Spendolini-Sirieix and Toulson dive to bronze

Great Britain racked up yet another diving medal courtesy of Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix and Lois Toulson as the pair fended off stiff competition to win bronze in the women’s synchronised 10m platform event.

A score of 77.76 on their final dive would prove crucial, a nervous wait to discover their podium fate ending as Canada managed just 68.16 in their bid to oust their rivals.

It was the Chinese duo of Chen Yuxi and Quan Hongchan who took gold as they retained their Olympic crowns, with North Korea’s Jo Jin Mi and Kim Mirae winning silver.

“It was so tense for us,” said Spendolini-Sirieix. “First off, we didn’t look at the scoreboard so we did not know how close it was. Our back twist is our strongest dive and we just wanted to be strong whatever happens.

“I was disappointed more than worried after the third dive because I knew we could bring it back. I gave it my all on the inward and let it all out.

“Just having family and doing it alongside Lois is so much sweeter. I can’t wait to celebrate with them.”

Potter secures bronze in women’s triathlon

Beth Potter kicked off the day in style as she raced to bronze in the women’s triathlon on Wednesday morning.

Parisian Beaugrand emerged victorious in a thriller as she stormed home with the support of her French fans ahead of Switzerland’s Julie Derron.

Beaugrand crossed the line in a winning time of 1:54:55, six seconds ahead of Derron with Potter 15 seconds adrift and Emma Lombardi agonisingly missing out on a medal.

“I’m so happy, I was going for the gold but Cassandre and Julie were too good for me today,” Potter told BBC Sport.

“I’m super happy to win bronze, I’ve come a long way in eight years, I’m so happy to be here.

“I feel like I did it for me but everybody who has helped me over the last eight years and who believed in me.”

Great Britain’s Tokyo runner-up Georgia Taylor-Brown finished sixth after falling behind the lead pack during the run section, with Kate Waugh coming 15th.

It had been reigning champ Flora Duffy who set the tone when she raced into the lead during the swim, Potter though remaining on her tail as she left the water in fifth before a group of 10 formed at the front.

As had been the case earlier in the week, weather played its part once more as the rain-hit streets of Paris caused more chaos with a number of athletes coming off their bikes.

The race began to open up during the transition phase from the bike to run, Taylor-Brown among those to drop back and later admitting to having little left in the tank.

Beaugrand, driven by the noise of her French supporters, pulled away at the beginning of the final lap in the 10km run, a final group of four eventually seeing Lombardi miss out on a podium place as Potter secured bronze.

Elsewhere British boxing was dealt another blow as Chantelle Reid suffered a split decision defeat to Khadija Mardi, leaving GB 0-5 in Paris with just light-middleweight Lewis Richardson still to compete.

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