What is Team GB’s Greatest Olympic Moment?
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In an alternate reality, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games would be in full flow and new heroes would be emerging.
But with the Games being pushed back a year, it’s time to get all nostalgic and really lean into some of Team GB’s finest Olympic moments…
Super Saturday – London 2012
In London’s Olympic Stadium on Saturday 4th August 2012 the stage was set for one spectacular Olympic evening
Jessica Ennis-Hill turned her immense potential into solid gold as she smashed her own British record to seal Heptathlon victory.
Greg Rutherford then produced the jump of his life to register 8.31m in the long jump which saw him crowned Olympic champion, before Mo Farah crossed the line first in the 5,000m – all inside a 44 -minute period.
This will always be a ‘where were you?’ moment…
Redgrave’s fifth gold – Sydney 2000
In 1996 after winning his fourth gold medal at his fourth Olympic Games. Steve Redgrave said enough was enough.
But four years on, Redgrave was on the start-line in the coxless four final in Sydney.
He joined Matthew Pinsent, James Cracknell and Tim Foster to win a lung-busting fifth gold, holding off a late Italian onslaught by just 0.38 seconds.
If he wasn’t already, Redgrave became steeped in Olympic history. He finally got the statue many believe his legacy deserves in his hometown of Marlow in 2015.
Coe v Ovett – Moscow 1980
World record holder Sebastian Coe was the overwhelming favourite going into the 800m at the Moscow Games in 1980. But he was in for a rude awakening after getting his tactics all wrong.
It allowed his great rival and fellow Brit Steve Ovett to take advantage and trump him to the gold medal.
Coe would re-write his wrongs and get his revenge in Ovett’s favoured 1500. Ovett had to settle for bronze as Coe crossed the line with his arms stretched wide and eyes bulging ahead of the pack.
Their nip and tuck rivalry continued until the next Olympics in Los Angeles in what was extraordinary times for British middle-distance running.
Hoy’s treble – Beijing 2008
After winning the kilo time trial gold in Athens four years earlier, the event was ditched for the Beijing Games.
This meant Chris Hoy had to re-invent himself, switching his training to three brand new events. He would make light work of it though as he powered to team sprint gold with Jason Kenny and Jamie Staff as well as individual sprint and keirin golds.
The Scot would set himself apart and become the first Briton in 100 years to win three golds at a single Games.
At London 2012, Hoy defended his keirin title also triumphing in the team sprint, giving him six golds in his Olympic career, a total later matched by Kenny in Rio.
So we’ve got our top four but what moment takes the gold medal for you? Tweet us @Ladbrokes
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication.
