Super Sunday as Team GB scoop five glorious golds

TEAM GB stormed into second place in the Olympic medal table on a remarkable day in Rio, adding five golds for a total of 38 medals overall.

23-year-old Max Whitlock won both the floor and pommel horse in the men’s individual gymnastics , pipping team mate Louis Smith in the latter as he picked up Britain’s first-ever men’s gymnastics gold.

“Winning the floor was a surprise,” he said. “I never go into any competition thinking about medals but just thinking about doing my job.

“You only get about one minute to show what you’ve been working on for four years.

“I wasn’t watching any of the other floor routines so it just hit me when I realised what I’d done.”

Elsewhere, Justin Rose became Britain’s first Olympic golf champion since 1904 as he saw off the challenge of Sweden’s Henrik Stenson in a dramatic final round, with the pair level on 15 under par as they approached the final hole.

Stenson bogeyed while Rose produced a fine birdie to complete a four under par round of 67 and clinch the win by two shots, and the 2013 US Open champion was clearly delighted with the result.

“That felt better than anything I’ve ever won. It was the best tournament I’ve ever done,” said Rose.

“Hopefully we’ve shown Brazil what golf is about. I’m glad it was close. Not for my nerves. For golf.”

In the men’s tennis tournament, Andy Murray became the first Briton to win two Olympic titles as he beat Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro 7-5 4-6 6-2 7-5 in a ding-dong four-hour epic which featured 14 breaks of serve.

The Scot broke down in tears once the gruelling encounter was over, and cast doubt on a return to Olympic competition at Tokyo 2020.

“Four years is a long time and so many things can change,” he said. “Who knows about Tokyo? At 33, I’m not sure I’ll be at the same level.”

In cycling, the all-Team GB men’s sprint final was won by Jason Kenny for his fifth Olympic gold medal and his second of these games, with young Callum Skinner collecting silver.

Only Sir Chris Hoy has now won more Olympic golds than Kenny, who has the opportunity to draw alongside Britain’s greatest ever Olympian when he races in the keirin on Tuesday, August 16.

The final British medal of the day was won by windsurfer Nick Dempsey, the two-time world champion bagging a silver in the RS:X class to add to his bronze from 2004 and silver from 2012.

In track and field, 32-year-old Christine Ohuruogu hinted at retirement as she could only finish fifth in her 400 metre semi-final, meaning she will not race in the final having picked up a gold medal at Beijing 2008 and a silver in London four years later.

Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt won a record-breaking third Olympic 100 metres title as he came from behind to defeat controversial US athlete Justin Gatlin, crossing the line in 9.81 seconds.

South African Wayde van Niekerk produced the performance of the day in the men’s 400 metres final as he broke Michael Johnson’s 17-year-old world record by 0.15 seconds, setting a new benchmark of 43.03.

Day 10 will bring at least one additional gold for Team GB, with sailor Giles Scott guaranteed top spot in the men’s Finn class, while boxer Joshua Buatsi is in line for at least a bronze.

Other highlights include the women’s hockey team taking on Spain in their quarter final, Charlotte Dujardin in the individual dressage, and cyclist Mark Cavendish’s quest for his first Olympic medal as the omnium concludes.