Cyclists, swimmers and rowers build on Scots medal haul

Katie Archibald helped Team GB take gold in the women's pursuit while teenager Duncan Scott claimed his 2nd silver medal.

Published 14th Aug 2016

Scottish sporting leaders are celebrating a record Olympic medal haul at a Games outside of the UK after further cycling and rowing success in Rio.

Katie Archibald helped Team GB take gold in the women's pursuit in the velodrome in a world record time.

Then in the early hours teenage swimmer Duncan Scott claimed his second silver medal of Rio 2016.

The 19 year old who trains at the University of Stirling was part of the team in the 4 x 100m medley relay along with Adam Peaty, Chris Walker-Hebborn, and James Guy.

Earlier in the day rowers Polly Swan and Karen Bennett claimed silver as part of the women's eight team.

Scots won a total of 13 medals at London 2012 but the previous record at an "away Games'' was seven at Sydney 2000.

The gold and silver for the British team in the women's eight rowing means athletes supported by sportscotland have contributed to nine medals so far.

Swimmers Stephen Milne, Duncan Scott and Dan Wallace were the first to claim a medal with silver in swimming's 4x200m freestyle relay, quickly followed by a bronze for Sally Conway in judo.

Silver has also been won by canoeist David Florence, rugby players Mark Bennett and Mark Robertson and rower Katherine Grainger - making her Britain's most decorated female Olympian.

Young cyclist Callum Skinner help Team GB to gold in track cycling's team sprint while Heather Stanning also took gold in rowing's women's pairs with Helen Glover.

Speaking to the BBC after winning gold Archibald, who has distinctive pink hair, joked that she could now dye her hair gold.

Sportscotland performance director Mike Whittingham is looking forward to more success with Andy Murray guaranteed to collect at least a silver medal on Sunday.

Mr Whittingham said: "What a brilliant performance by Katie Archibald and her Team GB colleagues to win gold in the Team Pursuit and break the world record. "I'm utterly thrilled for Katie, who has come back from rupturing her posterior cruciate knee ligament and fracturing her elbow last year to become an Olympic champion in her first Games.''

He added: "Congratulations to the Scots Polly Swan and Karen Bennett along with their colleagues for winning silver in the Women's Eight.

"It's the first time in Olympic history that a British team has won a medal in this discipline, and it was a wonderful performance by the team to finish in second place behind the imperious USA crew.

"Scots have now won the most medals at an 'away Games' ever and with Andy Murray's gold medal match in tennis' singles still to come, we are guaranteed at least 10 medals.

"It has been a tremendous performance so far by the Scots at the Olympics and there are still plenty of medal opportunities to come."