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Sir Bradley Wiggins wins British record eighth Olympic medal

Cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins has become the UK's most decorated Olympian after Team GB won gold in...



Sir Bradley Wiggins wins Briti...
Off The Ball Radio

Sir Bradley Wiggins wins British record eighth Olympic medal

Cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins has become the UK's most decorated Olympian after Team GB won gold in the men's team pursuit in Rio.

Wiggins and his fellow racers Edward Clancy, Steven Burke and Owain Doull also set a new world record in the event.

They finished in 3 minutes 50.265 seconds, just ahead of Australia who led for most of the four-kilometre race. The quartet also broke the world record in their semi-final.

Wiggins' latest gold means he now has one Olympic medal more than fellow cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, who was commentating in the stands.

Altogether he has five golds, one silver and two bronze, won at five Olympics dating back to the 2000 Sydney Games.

"Really the last 12 months we've pretty much done everything together, training camps at altitude, early-morning starts at the track, late finishes at the track before Christmas Day, all for this," he told the BBC.

"And we're here and we've done it. These four guys here - I would never have come back if we didn't have the calibre.

"I've always said Ed and Burkey, for me, are two of the most underrated athletes I've ever raced with. They're so talented and they don't get the credit for it because theyre not big road stars.

"Then you've got Doully who reminds me of a young G (Geraint Thomas). Can do anything in the sport and nothing fazes him, especially Olympic finals at 21. When you're with guys like that on the line it makes your job a hell of a lot easier."

The pursuit gold was Team GB's second in the velodrome after Jason Kenny, Callum Skinner and Philip Hindes' victory in the men's team sprint final.

It capped an outstanding day for Britain after two rowing golds and silvers coming in three other events.

One went to horse riders Charlotte Dujardin, Carl Hester, Fiona Bigwood and Spencer Wilton in the team dressage, while Bryony Page claimed silver in the women's trampoline final.

Later swimmer Jazz Carlin won her second silver of the Games in the women's 800 metres freestyle, following her success in the 400 metres freestyle.

The achievements lifted Great Britain and Northern Ireland to third in the medals table after the United States and China.

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