First up were Iain Percy & Andrew Simpson, who had been in Gold position on the water into the last 200m, when the wind changed sufficiently for all of the different variables (such as where they could finish compared to their rivals) came into play to leave them in 7th and holding the silver. It seemed like such bad luck, but the two of them fully acknowledged that a single positioning cock-up had cost them.
Iain Percy & Andrew Simpson, Star Class, Silver
Next came Ben Ainslie, already our greatest Olympic Sailor, now vying for his 4th Gold. The equation was simple - finish ahead of the Dane, and hope the Dutch sailor comes 4th or below.
I'm no sailing tactician, but I'd like to know from someone who is why you wouldn't just lead from the front? Anyway, we saw him chasing the Dane around before the start but not getting him. The race proceeded with the main 2 protagonists towards the end of the field.
The commentators were worried about the Dutchman, and at the penultimate mark, Ainslie got caught behind the Finn, dropped a spot & saw the Dutchman in 3rd. He now had to gain a place somehow or get silver.
By now I was on the edge of the sofa, shouting at the telly. Somehow, around the last mark, the Dutchman got into an unnecessary tussle with the Kiwi (co-incidentally Ainslie's mate?), dropped a couple of places, and Ainslie clinched it.
As he acknowledged afterwards, he'd had a tough week and had to dig really deep to get back into the regatta. I just wonder how much his rage about being ganged up on and taking that penalty turn earlier in the week was real or feigned - whatever it was, it worked a treat!
Ben Ainslie, Finn class, Gold
And so we moved to the tranquil lawns of SW19, where the format had changed from best of 3 to best of 5.
The roof stayed open in blustery conditions, which certainly favoured Murray, but surely not to the extent that the first 2 sets suggested. Quite frankly, Muzza administered a thrashing the like of which Federer can rarely have experienced. There was a game in the second set when Fed had a load of break points, none of which he could take. As unbelievable as it seemed, it looked like Muz might do it. The commentors even started speculating that Fed might have decided to let him have this one, as they just couldn't explain how else Muz was administering such a beating!
The 3rd set was slightly closer, but before long Murray was two points away - and they were both aces (the last one certainly was!)! Cue unbelievable scenes, and the usual roof walk to see the family.
I'm fairly ambivalent about having tennis & footie in the Olympics, it's not the blue riband in these sports - but seeing Murray's reaction to the victory, and hearing him say it is the biggest win in his career does make you wonder if it is pretty meaningful. I can safely say that if Brazil win the football, something they have never done, it will be enormous for the country. Maybe we should mock less!
Andy Murray, Tennis, Gold
After an hour's rest, Muz came out with laura Robson for the mixed doubles final. They'd come in as wildcards, but as the week had progressed had done better & better, usually winning the first set, losing the second, then winning the "champion's tie break". The final followed exactly the same process, but this time they lost the tie-break, agaisnt the number 1 seeds. I don't think either of them really minded though.
Andy Murray & Laura Robson, Tennis, Silver
I didn't really see the rest of the medals, as we were out for the afternoon, but Louis Smith only missed out on Gold because his routine wasn't quite as hard - the score was the same.
Louis Smith, Pommel, Silver
Max Whitlock, Pommel, Bronze
Ed Clancy didn't have great bunched races, but did well in the timed stuff, and finished with Bronze - considering his main training focus is on the team pursuit, this is still a great effort.
Ed Clancy, Omnium, Bronze
Good old Christine - I'm still not sure about her, but she pulled it out of the bag, and almost caught Sanya Richards-Ross on the line, but for once, Sanya didn't choke in the big final and deserved her victory - she has been consistently the faster runner, but has never quite done it on the big occasion.
Christine Ohuruogu, 400m, Silver
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