Kate French stormed to modern pentathlon gold with a phenomenal all-round performance at Tokyo 2020.
The 30-year-old started the decisive laser-run in fifth position, 15 seconds back following the swimming, fencing and show jumping disciplines.
But a brilliant first pistol shoot helped her close the gap and by the end of the first of four 800m laps, she was in the lead.
French didn’t let up from there, steadily building a lead over her rivals and nailing each of the other three pistol shoot rounds before sprinting home to win by 16 seconds for Team GB’s 18th Tokyo gold.
French follows in the footsteps of Stephanie Cook, who won Olympic gold at Sydney 2000 when the women’s modern pentathlon event was held at the Games for the first time.
French, 30, from Meopham, Kent, said: “I don’t know what just happened, I can’t really believe it right now.
“I knew I had to focus, I knew I could do it if I just focussed on my shooting and ran as hard as I could.
“The team were in the stadium supporting, I could hear them in the crowd and everyone back home, I can’t thank them enough for their support.
“I couldn’t have done it without them. Thank you so much.
“Thank you to The National Lottery, I wouldn’t be without them either so thank you to people who buy the tickets.”
