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Olympics 2024: Britain win team pursuit bronze, silver medals

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How Team GB secured two team pursuit medals in Paris (0:55)

Great Britain's team pursuit men's team win silver, while the women's team take bronze in Paris. (0:55)

Team GB's track cycling success continued on Wednesday as they earned silver and bronze medals in the men's and women's team pursuit finals, respectively.

The medals, both secured in dramatic races at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome, mean that Team GB's athletes have stood on the podium four times during the first three days of track cycling action.

Ethan Hayter, Charlie Tanfield, Ethan Vernon and Dan Bigham earned Team GB's 1,000th Olympic medal when they took silver after being beaten by Australia in an eventful gold medal race.

Australia were favourites to win gold after setting a new world record in their first-round head-to-head race against Italy on Tuesday with a time of three minutes 40.730 seconds.

The two teams were closely matched heading into the final lap before Hayter dramatically lost control of his bicycle and veered momentarily off the black line before almost hitting the barrier. The mishap meant that Australia took gold by a comfortable margin of 2.327 seconds.

"We were so close and I could see it. It was nearly five laps at the end and I just really gave too much, and my whole body went weak and I really struggled to hold myself on the bike in the end," Hayter said.

"Sorry to the guys but I think we gave everything and we can be proud of that silver medal.

"We were super happy to win a silver medal but it was really there for the taking for us and we kind of knew that. We went out to get it but just came short in the end, so it's a shame."

Later on Wednesday, Elinor Barker, Josie Knight, Anna Morris and Jess Roberts showed patience to overcome Italy in their bronze medal race.

With 2,625 metres of the 4,000-metre race complete, they were 1.234 seconds behind Italy, but the British quartet reeled in their tiring opponents over the last few laps to eventually win by 2.579 seconds.

"It's been so surreal. When we were sat waiting for the final ride you really appreciate being able to take that moment in," Morris said.

"It was my last chance to take in that atmosphere of this Games and I was already thinking I wanted to do it all over again and I hadn't even done my final race yet. Tense moments for me being the rider who bailed out in that last ride but so proud of the girls for finishing it off so strong."

Team GB also won gold in the women's team sprint final on Monday and silver in the men's team sprint final on Tuesday.