Day two brought the first medals for Team GB, so congratulations to Lizzie Armitstead and Rebecca Addlington, the latter particularly for cleverly managing the media’s over-expectations, and to the crowds both in the rain-soaked Mall and later in the Aquatic Centre for roaring them both on.
Lizzie Armitstead kicked off Team GB’s medal haul with silver in the road cycling
The performance of the day for me came from the Gymnasts, again supported by a full-house at Greenwich. Gymnastics is one of those sports I really only watch at Olympic time, and so it is easier to judge progress when viewed at four-yearly intervals. When I watched the Eastern European teams in the ‘seventies, it was difficult to imagine how this country could ever compete with the standards of Comaneci, Tourischeva and the particularly innovative Olga Korbut. When we did put our best gymnasts forward to the games, they were usually plucky girls who smiled and tried their best despite knowing they would be totally outclassed by the girls from Russia in their red leotards.