Tokyo Olympics: Swimmer Duncan Scott makes history with medal haul as Team GB wins gold in BMX and gymnastics

Charlotte Worthington wins gold in the BMX freestyle after landing a 360 backflip which has never before been performed in female competition.

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Flipping amazing! Another BMX gold for Team GB
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Swimmer Duncan Scott has made history for Britain with his medal haul at the Tokyo Olympics, as Team GB celebrated golds in the BMX and gymnastics.

Charlotte Worthington secured a sensational victory in the women's BMX freestyle and gymnast Max Whitlock won the men's pommel horse final with a commanding score.

It came as Scott became the first British athlete to win four medals at a single Olympics with a silver in the men's 4x100 metres medley relay.

Team GB have now won 10 gold medals at the Tokyo Games and achieved their best ever Olympic medal haul in swimming with four golds, three silvers and a bronze.

Duncan Scott of Britain swims in a heat of the men's 200-meter individual medley at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Image: Scott is the first British athlete to win four medals at a single Games

Scott's latest medal follows his gold in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay and silver in the solo event, as well as finishing runner-up in the 200m individual medley.

The 24-year-old from Glasgow said: "It's not really hit me what's happened. Each race I've tried to park when it's done and look forward to the next one.

"I think the relay culture in Britain is great. There are great medal opportunities. I've got to give a massive credit to my team-mates."

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It took a world-record time from the US team to beat Scott, Adam Peaty, Luke Greenbank and James Guy in the final swimming event in Tokyo.

Britain's eighth swimming medal bettered their previous best tally in the pool of seven gongs, set at the London Games 113 years ago.

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games - Day Nine
Great Britain's (left-right) Duncan Scott, Luke Greenbank, James Guy, Adam Peaty, after winning the silver medal in the Men's 4 x 100m Medley Relay at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre on the ninth day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. Picture date: Sunday August 1, 2021.
Image: Great Britain's (L-R) Duncan Scott, Luke Greenbank, James Guy, Adam Peaty with their silver medals in the final swimming event

British Swimming GB head coach Bill Furniss said the delay of the Games by a year due to the COVID pandemic helped the team because it allowed them to bring more talented juniors through.

He told Sky Sports News: "I think the team we brought here is different to the one we would have brought had to run it last year and made us stronger in some areas."

Adam Peaty has now won five Olympic medals including three golds
Image: Adam Peaty has now won five Olympic medals including three golds

Furniss also hailed "inspirational" star swimmer Peaty, who has now won three Olympic golds and two silvers across Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, for the effect he has had on his teammates.

In the BMX, Worthington's gold-winning performance saw her land the first ever 360 backflip to be performed in women's competition in a huge second run - having crashed attempting the move in her first.

Great Britain's Charlotte Worthington has won the gold medal in the women's BMX freestyle at the Tokyo Olympics.
Image: Charlotte Worthington landing the first 360 backflip in women's competition

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BMX star's mum: 'She knew she could do that trick'

It was just one of several highlights in a second effort that earned her a score of 97.5 to edge out three-time world champion Hannah Roberts of the United States.

Moments later, Britain's Declan Brooks took bronze in the men's BMX freestyle.

His medal comes just two months after he was left unconscious following a horror crash that put his Olympic dreams in doubt.

After UK Sport withdrew funding for women's BMX, Worthington worked 40 hours a week as a chef in a Mexican restaurant as she trained for this year's Games.

Great Britain's Charlotte Worthington on her way to winning a gold medal in the women's BMX freestyle at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the ninth day of the Tokyo
Image: Worthington has won a place in the history books as the first person to win a gold medal for BMX freestyling

After her victory, the 25-year-old from Manchester admitted her 360 backflip was "definitely a gamble", but added: "It's amazing when gambles pay off."

"I've probably been working on it a few months," she said. "I keep my cards close to my chest because it definitely pays off in these situations.

"I think it's been gold medal or nothing this whole journey."

Team GB have now finished on the podium in all four BMX competitions in Tokyo.

The latest medals follow the success of Bethany Shriever, who won gold in women's BMX racing, and "Prince of Peckham" Kye Whyte, who took silver in the men's BMX racing.

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Whitlock was hailed by Team GB as "the greatest gymnast this country has ever produced" after defending his Olympic title in the men's pommel horse - his sixth Olympic medal over three Games.

He is only the sixth Briton to win at least six Olympic medals, following in the footsteps of Sir Bradley Wiggins, Sir Chris Hoy, Jason Kenny, Sir Steve Redgrave and Charlotte Dujardin in reaching the milestone.

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Whitlock says winning gold feels 'surreal'
Max Whitlock competes in the men's pommel horse in Tokyo
Image: Max Whitlock won gold in the men's pommel horse in Tokyo

There was more British success in the boxing as super-heavyweight Frazer Clarke claimed a controversial victory that ensured Britain will at least equal a post-war record of five Olympic medals in the sport in Tokyo.

The Burton fighter narrowly lost the first round to Mourad Aliev but was battling back in the second when the referee stopped the action to disqualify the Frenchman for a headbutt.

Frazer Clarke (L) and Mourad Aliev's match was stopped after the Frenchman was disqualified for a headbutt. Pic: AP
Image: Frazer Clarke (L) and Mourad Aliev's match was stopped after the Frenchman was disqualified for a headbutt. Pic: AP
Mourad Aliev refused to leave the ring after being disqualified. Pic: AP
Image: Mourad Aliev refused to leave the ring after being disqualified. Pic: AP

Furious Aliev kicked his gum-shield into the empty stands at the Kokugikan Arena and remonstrated with Clarke before engaging in a sit-down protest on the ring-steps.

Clarke's progress to the semi-final means he is guaranteed at least a bronze, while Britain's Ben Whittaker edged into the men's light-heavyweight final with a split decision verdict over Imam Khataev of the Russian Olympic Committee.

Meanwhile, organisers are investigating after a group of athletes were found drinking alcohol in the Olympic village in violation of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.