Team Great Britain secure two medals over first Olympic weekend

Over the first weekend of the London 2012 Olympic Games...

13:54 30 July 2012

Over the first weekend of the London 2012 Olympic Games, team GB triumphantly bagged its first two medals. 

 

It was the ladies who really did the Brits proud at this early stage as swimmer Rebecca Adlington secured a bronze following a heartpumping 400 metres freestyle and a silver came after Yorkshire cyclist Lizzie Armistead rode to glory in the event. Her podium finish prompted the 23-year old Otley resident to highlight the need for more investment in women's sport across the UK. 

 

As of Monday morning Britain was still trailing in the medal tables however as the People's Republic of China stormed ahead into the first place with 6 golds, 4 silvers and bronze medals. The Americans weren't too far behind in second with 3 golds, 5 silvers and bronze. Italy rounded out the top three with 2 golds, 3 silvers and 2 bronze.  

 

The 2012 medals table so far:

 

                           Gold         Silver        Bronze        Total

 

 China                    9              5              3              17

 

 United States      5              7              5              17

 

 Italy                        2              4              2              8

 

 South Korea        2              2              2              6

 

 Japan                   1              4              6              11

 

 France                  3              1              3              7

 

 Russia                 2              0              3              5

 

 North Korea        3              0              1              4

 

 Australia              1              2              1              4

 

 Brazil                    1              1              1              3

 

 Hungary              1              1              1              3

 

 Kazakhstan        2              0              0              2

 

 Netherlands       1              1              0              2

 

 Great Britain       0              1              2              3

 

 

 

The two aforementioned medals were not the only glories bestowed on team GB however as our national football team also put in great work, beating the UAE 3-1 before a crowd of 82,000. Giggs (16), Sinclair (73), Sturridge (76) made up our goalscorers while the United Arab Emirates star Rashed Eisa (60) secured their lone goal giving team GB a real chance further down the line. 

 

Other events such as the basketball didn't work in Britain's favour, however. The nation's long-awaited return to Olympic men's basketball was crushed by the Russians in a 75-95 defeat. 

 

By the end of Beijing 2008, team GB had amassed 19 golds, 13 silvers and 15 bronze medals ranking fourth overall. Before that in Athens we took home 9 golds and silvers as well as 12 bronze medals.

 

Chances are we've got plenty more in us yet: Great Britain has attended every Olympic Games and have also won at least one gold medal at each appearance.