Team GB Claims Historic Gold in Women's Quadruple Sculls at Paris 2024

Great Britain's rowers won a dramatic Olympic gold in the women's quadruple sculls after a nail-biting photo finish with the Netherlands.

The Dutch-led from the start and were half a boat length clear with 200 meters to go before an astonishing push from the GB team clinched the victory at the line. The quartet of Lauren Henry, Lola Anderson, Georgina Brayshaw, and Northern Ireland's Hannah Scott won in six minutes and 16.31 seconds, with the Netherlands just 0.15 seconds behind them.

Team GB Women's Quadruple Sculls crew

After an anxious wait for the winner to be announced, the four rowers collapsed into each other's arms in joyous scenes of jubilation and pure exhaustion.

“It’s been a long time in the making, and I still can’t quite believe it,” Scott told BBC One. “We kept it so cool to the end. We had the confidence, we know we’ve done so many hard miles in training. The immensity of it hasn't caught up with me yet.”

This triumph signifies a hopeful return to form for GB's rowers in Paris after a disappointing campaign in Tokyo without any gold medals. GB's men finished fourth in the same event, with the Netherlands successfully defending their title from Tokyo.

Tom Barras was the only remaining rower from the GB team that won silver in 2021, with Callum Dixon, Matthew Haywood, and Graeme Thomas completing the quartet. They finished almost two seconds behind Poland, who claimed the bronze, with Italy taking the silver.

It is the first time Team GB has won the quadruple sculls at the Olympics, marking an emotional milestone for the team.

The quartet won the World Championships in the discipline in 2023, and while the Netherlands appeared to have a solid lead at the halfway mark, Team GB showed immense determination and resilience to snatch victory at the very end. Germany claimed bronze while defending champions China finished sixth.

Two-time Olympic champion Helen Glover and the women's four are among the British boats going for gold on Wednesday, promising more excitement and potential victories for Team GB in Paris 2024.