18/08/2004

Fifth day sees British Olympic medal tally grow

High hopes of a medal in the women's archery competition came good today with Alison Williamson winning bronze by a one point margin over China's Shun Chi Yuan in the semi-final of the 70m competition.

The 32-year-old schoolteacher from Shropshire held steady in a shoot-out that was tied at 97-all. Down to the last arrow, Williamson's nerve held and she took eight points with her last arrow to her competitor's seven to take the bronze.

Britain has so far won four medals at the 2004 Olympics.

Helen Reeves, competing in the singles Kayak event was awarded a third place. She had previously been placed fourth, but an official adjudication against the French K1 Kayak competitor in the event boosted Reeve's place into a bronze-medal winning position in the event.

Earlier in the men's 200m butterfly Stephen Parry had secured a bronze medal as he broke the Commonwealth record time to finish third in the final.

Parry dedicated the medal to his father - who was too ill to travel to see the competition. He said that he was dissatisfied with his time of 1:55.52, but said that he had spent his whole life wanting to achieve that an Olympic medal.

However, though there are a couple of medal potential swimming medal events yet to come, there has been disappointment that the swimming medal tally is so low.

Parry, 27, said that he hoped that he had started the ball rolling in the medal tally for Britain.

As day five of the Olympics was drawing to a close in Greece, top British honours remain with Peter Waterfield and Leon Taylor who won a Silver medal in the men's synchronized 10-metre platform diving event.

Britain's sailing team have continued to put in a strong performance and hopes of medals in several of the Olympic sailing classes are looking promising.

(SP)

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