A Team GB athlete has dedicated her Olympic performance to a frontline NHS worker.
Beth Dobbin came fifth in the 200m semi-finals race, which knocked her out the competition.
But the athlete was quick to honour her mother’s best friend after the race ended, saying she ran in memory of the NHS worker after she had taken her own life in June having treated patients throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
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The 27-year-old said: “Dina [Asher-Smith] did a really good captain’s speech where she said this group of Olympians are the most resilient that we’ve probably ever had and that just really touched a nerve with me.
“Obviously, I’ve been through a lot myself, and also this past 18 months has been really difficult for every athlete and everyone in particular. And can I take this moment to shout out my best friend’s mum, Julie? She was an NHS nurse for 34 years and she sadly took her own life in June.
“She was a frontline NHS worker, it’s been a really, really difficult year with Covid and I’m just proud of myself I stuck at it and all the athletes on the team because it’s not been easy at all for anyone.”
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Elsewhere, one athlete made history for Team GB, when Emily Campbell swept up our first ever medal in the weightlifting category .
The athlete, 27, wowed as she made clean and jerk lifts of 156kg and 161kg retrospectively, beating US' Sarah Robles who took home the bronze, and solidifying herself as one to watch as she made her Olympic debut.
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Emily was watched in the Olympics by her mum Linda and her sister Kelsie, who jetted over from Florida to catch her bagging silver.
Today will also mark the return of USA’s superstar gymnast Simone Biles. The star chose to withdraw from two events, citing mental health reasons.
Kimberley Bond