As the curtain comes down on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Dame Katherine Grainger and Dr Kate Baker reflect on the performances of the past 16 days.
Dame Katherine Grainger, Chair of UK Sport said: “I’m exceptionally proud of how every British athlete has performed here in Paris. Each and every one of them has worked incredibly hard to reach the pinnacle of their sport and play their part in another thrilling chapter of Great Britain’s Olympic success story. That story is now one of continued, consistent success as a leading Olympic nation in The National Lottery funded era.
“Our athletes have inspired us and made the nation proud and while the sport is over, for now, I’m excited to see many of the Olympic class of 2024 return home and use their platform to make a positive impact in society. Sport has an ability to bring us together and British athletes have told us that they want to do more in their communities to make a positive difference. After an incredible Olympic Games in Paris, the ChangeMaker initiative back home next week will see them support the good causes they are passionate about.
“I am of course also excited to see what our brilliant ParalympicsGB athletes can do in Paris in a few weeks’ time, no doubt buoyed by Team GB’s success.”
Reflecting on some of the standout moments of the Games, UK Sport Director of Performance, Dr Kate Baker added:
“Winning over 60 medals for the fourth consecutive Games, something only matched by the US and China, should not be underestimated and huge credit should go to the brilliant athletes who have impressed and inspired in Paris.
“The foundation of that continued success as a leading Olympic nation is based on our high-performance community's ability to wrap the best support around talented athletes to enable them to fulfil their ambitions. This is enabled by the long-term funding commitment we’ve had from consecutive governments and The National Lottery which allows the sports to plan for the long term, nurturing the very best young athletes and developing and retaining some of the best coaches and practitioners in the world.
“One of the strengths of Olympic sport is its breadth of sports and athletes. There really is something for everyone and we’ve seen some incredible sporting milestones over the course of these wonderful Olympic Games as GB has delivered a breadth of medal success across 18 sports.
“Over the past 16 days of competition athletes have provided some pioneering, generational moments of sporting theatre. I have no doubt the nine mothers competing for Team GB have been an inspiration up and down the country and seeing seven of them coming home with a medal is a seminal moment for women’s sport.
“A first medal in female diving since 1960 from Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jenson contributed to a record-breaking Games for our divers. To complete the aquatics programme last night with an extraordinary first ever Artistic Swimming medal for Isabelle Thorpe and Kate Shortman was fitting.
“And some of our most established programmes have also delivered once again. Cycling, across the disciplines, Athletics, Equestrian and, after a tough Tokyo, Team GB’s rowers were back in phenomenal fashion here in Paris.
“We’ve also enjoyed a blend of experienced campaigners returning to the Olympic fold to win medals, including Alex Yee, Adam Peaty, Bryony Page, Joe Clarke and Helen Glover with the emergence of extraordinary new talent including Toby Roberts, Ellie Aldridge and Emma Finucane.
“Huge credit should also go to the unsung heroes of Olympic sport. The coaches, medical practitioners and wider support staff who work with the athletes day in day out. It is their work, combined with Team GB’s efforts to create the ideal performance environment here in Paris, which has facilitated what we have all enjoyed over the past 16 days of competition.
“And so, as our attention turns to the Paralympic Games and then to Los Angeles 2028 the future of Olympic sport in Great Britain is shining brightly.”