Great Britain at the 2004 Summer Olympics
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
Great Britain (the name under which the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland competes at the Olympics) sent a wide-ranging delegation to the 2004 Summer Olympics, continuing its ubiquitous presence in the Olympic games — the only country to have sent competitors to every summer and winter games since the birth of the modern Olympics in 1896. Great Britain's 271 athletes are competing in 22 disciplines throughout the two-week event. The team entered the opening ceremony behind the Union Flag carried by judoka Kate Howey.
Chronology
The delegation started the Olympics slowly, the silver its divers won on August 14 being the first of only a few opening-week medals. Although a sprinkling of silver and bronze medals — including a pair in men's and women's k1 kayak slalom — enlivened the mid-week, Britain's first gold did not come until Friday the 20th (won by Chris Hoy in the 1 km track cycling time-trial).
Then, on 21 August ("Golden Saturday") Britain's contributions to the medal table became more significant. First Britain's traditional strength in rowing continued as the men's coxless four, stroked by Matthew Pinsent, narrowly won gold, a defining moment since this was Pinsent's fourth gold medal in as many games. Sailor Ben Ainslie wrapped up a successful few days of racing with a gold, as did the women's Yngling sailboats who were finally awarded the gold medal they had sewn up on Thursday. Bradley Wiggins continued Britain's cycling success, winning gold in the 4 km pursuit. Young swimmer David Davies, coming third in the 1500 m Freestyle, set a European record in the process and won Britain's second swimming medal of the games — a notable improvement over the 2000 Sydney games from which the swimmers had returned empty-handed. Also on Saturday, it was announced that, after an appeal, Leslie Law would be promoted from silver to gold in the three-day equestrian eventing (and his team from bronze to silver). As the games' aquatic-dominated first week shifted into a second week focused more on track and field events, Kelly Sotherton came third in the heptathlon.
Sunday 22 August brought another rowing medal. However, marathon favourite Paula Radcliffe failed to cope with the heat of Athens and did not finish. The timing of the race with a late afternoon start, supposedly to appease US broadcasters, produced some controversy since summer marathons normally start early in the morning to avoid the heat.
23 August saw Britain's first Gold medal of the track and field events, Kelly Holmes winning the women's 800 metres. This was Britain's first gold medal on the track since Sally Gunnell won the 400 metre hurdles at the 1992 Barcelona games.
By claiming bronze in the Madison cycling on 25 August, to add to his earlier individual gold and a silver from the team pursuit, Bradley Wiggins became the first Briton for 40 years to claim three medals in one games.
Medals as of 28 August
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Competitors and results by eventMen's individual:
Women's individual:
Women's team:
Men's singles:
Women's singles:
Men's doubles:
Women's doubles:
Mixed doubles:
57-60kg:
Women's Artistic Gymnastics:
Women's Rhythmic Gymnastics:
Women's Trampoline:
Men's Trampoline:
Men's Singles:
Men's Triathlon:
Women's Triathlon:
Media coverageThe main rights to Olympic coverage in the UK are held by the BBC, under the ITC Code on Sports and Other Listed Events. 2004 marks the first year that digital television and webcasts have been used to cover an Olympic Games. The digital television service allows up to 5 streamed channels covering the games, allowing more extensive coverage of minor sports, whilst the BBC's website permits UK broadband users to view live streams from a variety of events, and other countries to view delayed highlights. Live broadcasts are run throughout the day, with a highlights program on BBC1 following the close of the day's events. The BBC's coverage is anchored (at various times of the day) by Craig Doyle, Claire Balding, Suzi Perry, Sue Barker, Steve Rider, Hazel Irvine and Steve Cram. Expert analysts and commentators include Sharron Davies, Jonathan Edwards, Sally Gunnell, Michael Johnson, Colin Jackson, and Sir Steve Redgrave. Eurosport also runs coverage of the Games viewable in the UK - in accordance with the ITC Code, it can show live events, provided that such events can also be broadcast by the BBC (although the BBC can choose not to do so). Radio coverage is provided by BBC Radio Five Live, and the events are also being covered by the sports pages of the major newspapers. External links
|
