TEAM GB have struck gold on the cycling track on Day 13 of the Olympics.
And also added two bronzes – and a guaranteed silver at least – on a thrillig day across the board.
Matt Walls dominated the Men’s Omnium to secure gold at the Izu Velodrome, while Liam Heath claimed bronze in the men’s sprint canoe and Holly Bradshaw finished third in the women’s pole vault.
It was Bradshaw’s first podium finish in a major championship as the Chorley star took an emotional bronze.
While flyweight Galal Yafai is through to Saturday’s gold medal match after beating Sake Bibossinov of Kazakhstan by split decision.
But elsewhere in the cycling there wasn’t such good news with Katy Marchant crashing out and Jason Kenny eliminated in the Men’s Sprint quarter-final.
However, it was better news for Jack Carlin, who has advanced to the semi-final of the same event.
Dina Asher-Smith has returned to the track in the 4x100m relay as the Brits BLITZED the field to set the fastest time in the heats.
The British women set a national record of 41.55sec and are the favourites going into the final and the men are also in the final after finishing second in their semi.
For Katarina Johnson-Thompson’s boyfriend Andrew Pozzi it was seventh in the 110m hurdles final.
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Stay up to date with all the updates from Tokyo in our live blog…
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BRADSHAW REACTS
Team GB star Holly Bradshaw’s quest for an Olympic medal in the pole vault category has come to a conclusion.
Bradshaw told the BBC: “This is what I’ve worked for my whole career.
“I’ve had so many ups and downs.
“It’s something that I’ve just wanted, and wanted it so bad and it finally happened”
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BAT IT AWAY
France’s 90-89 men’s basketball semi-final victory over Slovenia went right down to the wire.
Luka Doncic inspired Slovenia with a triple double, but it wasn’t quite enough as the French squeezed into the final against the USA.
Here is the incredible, last-ditch block by LA Clippers star Nicolas Batum that sealed victory for France.
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FRENCH CONNECTION
It’s heartbreak for Luka Doncic and Slovenia, as they fall 90-89 to France in the men’s basketball semi-finals.
The Dallas Mavericks superstar delivered an extraordinary performance, registering only the third triple double in Olympics history.
But it will be France who play the USA in the final, after edging past the Doncic-inspired Slovenians.
Luka and Co will play Australia for a bronze.
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GARD OF HONOUR
What a moment for the Bahamas!
Steven Gardiner is the men’s 400m sprint champion at Tokyo 2020.
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‘BRAVE’
American superstar gymnast Simone Biles has admitted that she feels’ ‘brave’ after putting her mental wellbeing first by pulling out of five events at Tokyo 2020.
She told the Today Show: “I thought that was brave of me, because if you would have asked me a couple of years ago, I would have kept pushing through.
“But I’m at the age now where I kind of control my mental and wellbeing and I knew that it was the best decision for the team and myself.”
Biles suffered from ‘twisties’ at Tokyo 2020Credit: Alamy -
BRADSHAW WINS BRONZE
And it’s a third time failure for Bradshaw at 4.90m in the women’s pole vault final!
But it’s not all bad here, she’s bagged herself a bronze medal
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BRADSHAW GOES FOR 4.90
Second attempt here for Bradshaw.
Can she go into the lead…
And Bradshaw hits the bar! Still in second for the Brit.
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BRADSHAW MISSES 4.90
The Brit – in second – has got two more attempts though.
Thrilling final here!
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WOMEN’S POLE VAULT FINAL
We’re up to 4.90m!
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‘I WAS REALLY AFRAID’
Simone Biles believes that the abuse she suffered at the hands of Larry Nassar ‘probably’ contributed to her mental health struggles at Tokyo 2020.
The American superstar suffered from ‘twisties’ at the Games, as she lost faith in her ability to execute her incredible routines.
Growing up, Biles was one of hundreds of gymnasts to be abused by serial paedophile and former US team doctor Larry Nassar.
And speaking to Hoda Kotb on the Today Show, she admitted that the harrowing abuse ‘probably’ affected her in Tokyo.
She said: “Now that I think of it, maybe in the back of my head, probably, yes, because there are certain triggers that you don’t even know.
“And I think [the abuse] could have [affected me].”
Simone Biles finished her Games by returning to win bronze in the barrel beam -
BRADSHAW CLEARS 4.85!
What a jump from Bradshaw!
She’s up to second.
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BRADSHAW IN BRONZE
Holly Bradshaw is currently in bronze medal position in a thrilling pole vault final.
Who will fall next?
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WOMEN’S POLE VAULT FINAL
But Bradshaw can’t clear her first attempt at 4.80.
Second attempt up next…
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HOLLY IN THE HUNT
There are just four athletes left in the pole vault final..and Great Britain’s Holly Bradshaw is one of them.
4.80m next up. Can she do it?
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DIAMOND’S DEBRIEF
After Great Britain’s 4x400m Women’s relay team qualified for the final of the event after a third place finish in their heat, Emily Diamond told the BBC:
“We had a really tough heat, all three medallists from Rio were in our heat so we had to put a strong team out there.
“It felt tough but we got the automatic qualification and that’s all we needed.”
Emily Diamond
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NOT OVER
Holly Bradshaw fails to clear the bar on her first attempt at 4.70m in the Women’s pole vault final.
She’s got two more chances at that.
Pre-Olympics Bradshaw had said 4.90m was her target.
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4x400M RELAY
Team GB’s Women’s team are through to the final of the 4x400m relay after an impressive performance in their heat.
They finish in third place behind the USA and Jamaica but that’s an excellent run from Emily Diamond, Zoey Clark, Laviai Nielsen and Nicole Yeargin.
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ALL SMILES
Matt Walls poses for pictures with his gold medal after winning the Men’s omnium in Track Cycling.
It’s Team GB’s first medal in the Track Cycling of Tokyo 2020.
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HOLLY’S OVER
Holly Bradshaw clears 4.50m at the first attempt.
That’s a good one to settle the nerves.
She couldn’t have asked for a better start.
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POLE VAULT FINAL
Now it’s time to head back to the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo for the Women’s Pole Vault final.
Holly Bradshaw is representing Team GB in this one.
She’s in with a shot of a medal here as she looks to improve on her 5th place finish from Rio 2016.
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RECAP
Team GB have won two medals on Day Thirteen of Tokyo 2020.
Early this morning Liam Heath won bronze in the Canoeing K1 200m sprint, following up his gold in the event from Rio 2016.
And then in the last hour Matt Walls picked up a sensational gold medal in the Men’s omnium in the Track Cycling as he swept away all of the opposition to top the leaderboard by a commanding 24 points after the four races.
Jack Carlin is also through to the semi-finals of the Men’s sprint, but defending champion Jason Kenny was knocked out at the quarter-final stage.
There was also success in the Boxing, with Galal Yafai reaching the final of the Men’s flyweight division after a split decision victory over Kazakhstan’s Saken Bibossinov.
On the Athletics track both Team GB’s Men and Women’s teams qualified for the final of the 4x100m relay, with the Women’s team setting a new British record in the process.
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VICTORY LAP
Matt Walls sets off an a lap of honour after winning gold in the Men’s omnium at the Izu Velodrome in Tokyo.
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WINNING MOMENT
And here’s the exact moment Matt Walls crossed the line to win gold for Team GB.
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MATT TALKS
Matt Walls is thanking his family for their support immediately after winning gold in the Men’s omnium, telling the BBC:
“Thank you to all my family and friends, I wouldn’t be here without them, especially my parents.
“When I was [a] youth growing up, travelling around the country racing, yeah [there’s] no chance so [a] big thank you to them.
“They’re all in Shaw Side watching so have fun!”
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WONDERFUL WALLS
Matt Walls of Oldham celebrates after winning gold in the Men’s omnium in fine fashion.
That’s one of the performances of the Games, with Walls cruising to a 24 point win over second place.
