Team GB Wins Second Medal on Day One of Paris 2024 Olympics

Great Britain celebrated a triumphant start to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as Anna Henderson secured the nation’s second medal on the opening day with a stellar performance in the women’s time trial on Saturday. The 25-year-old cyclist, who clocked a time of 41:09:83, won silver behind Australia’s Grace Brown, while Chloe Dygert of the USA took bronze.

Henderson’s achievement comes a decade after a leg injury from skiing at age 15 forced her to give up the sport and switch to cycling. Reflecting on her journey, Henderson told Eurosport, “I changed to cycling because I had an injury and I couldn’t go downhill anymore. I had to rewire my brain and train how to be a cyclist. It’s taken 10 years to come to this moment.”

The rainy weather in Paris posed a significant challenge, with athletes navigating slippery city streets. Despite the tough conditions, Henderson’s focus and determination paid off. “Maybe [my skiing experience] helps subconsciously,” she said. “But right now, I don’t think it does. I was just so focused on the plan yesterday.”

Eurosport expert Jo Rowell praised Henderson’s performance, highlighting her ability to maintain control and execute her strategy perfectly. “We just really focused on controlling the corners,” Henderson explained. “You can lose a whole Olympic Games in one corner, but you can gain everything everywhere else.”

The day’s excitement wasn’t limited to cycling. Divers Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen secured a bronze medal for Team GB in the women's synchronised 3m springboard final, marking the nation’s first opening-day Olympic medal in 20 years. The pair capitalized on a final-round slip by the Australian duo, earning a spot on the podium and making history as the first British woman to win an Olympic diving medal since Elizabeth Ferris in 1960.

As for Henderson, her silver medal win is a testament to her perseverance through a challenging year, including two broken collarbones and illness. “It’s been a super surreal feeling, even to come to Paris was surreal,” she said. “I had a dream that maybe if all the stars aligned I could make the podium, like the bronze medal, but silver I thought, ‘Woah, I’ve really outdone myself here’.”

Henderson’s Olympic journey continues on Sunday, August 4, when she competes in the women's road race, buoyed by her remarkable debut performance.

Overall, the opening day of the Paris 2024 Olympics has set a promising tone for Team GB, with the athletes demonstrating resilience and excellence, much to the delight of their supporters back home.