Tokyo Olympics: New GB heroes emerge to follow the 'legends that never die'
Adam Peaty powered to victory in the 100m breaststroke and Tom Daley finally found his golden moment in the 10m synchronised diving with Matty Lee. There were, though, new names that emerged who have built their ambitions on the shoulders of established British Olympians.
Monday 26 July 2021 17:18, UK
A new generation of Olympic heroes has emerged for Team GB on a day when the medals flowed in Tokyo.
Adam Peaty powered to victory in the 100m breaststroke and Tom Daley finally found his golden moment at the Olympic Games in the 10m synchronised diving with Matty Lee.
There were, though, new names that emerged who have built their ambitions on the shoulders of established British Olympians.
The first gold medal for the Team GB cycling team came in the mountain bike competition.
Twenty-one-year-old Tom Pidcock from Leeds told Sky News that one of his mentors, former Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee, was there to see him clinch his gold medal in Japan.
Pidcock said: "I have been training with them since I was quite young…they are both Olympic heroes and now I'm Olympic champion.
"I guess there is a time when the tide changes."
The Brownlees have dominated triathlon over the last decade and have also helped shape 22-year-old Alex Yee, who made his Olympic debut in Tokyo.
Jonny Brownlee went into the race looking for the gold medal that has always eluded him but in punishing conditions finished fifth.
It was though the young prodigy Yee who fulfilled the huge promise to clinch second place and a silver medal.
Yee said: "All I'd say is that legends never die. They (the Brownlees) have created a legacy for our sport.
"Triathlon wasn't what it was before they started. Now it's got the platform that it's on and I hope I can do the same for the sport."
Jonny Brownlee said afterwards: "Anyone who's watched the sport over the last few years, they'll know that wasn't a shock. They've seen that coming.
"Alex has got the ability to dominate the sport now. People are going to need to work hard to beat him, because if they're not careful he's going to win lots and lots of races."
Twenty-two-year-old Lauren Williams made it to the final in the taekwondo.
She's another young Olympian who was inspired by the London Games in 2012 and seeing Jade Jones win gold.
Williams, from south Wales, missed out on gold in the dying seconds of her final and was disappointed not to have won.
She said: "It's not enough, I know it's not enough."
"I had her with 10 seconds to go. I messed up, I made a mistake and it's on me."
The gold medal that Adam Peaty won in the pool was the 100th since the National Lottery began funding Olympic sports.
Expectations have been raised for Team GB at every Olympic Games since.
Winners have to emerge to meet those ambitions but when they have footsteps to follow, the path to Olympic glory is that bit easier.