This means more

Britain misses out on team medals for the first time as new forces arise, but pride remains the overwhelming feeling

- OSCAR WILLIAMS

COMING into these Games the British team knew they were outsiders for team medals, and so it came to pass. There would be no repeat of their against-the-odds win in Tokyo. But it wouldn’t be the dominant Dutch, fresh from their success at last summer’s Europeans, who broke Britain’s unbeaten Paralympic streak. Rather, it was to be the well-backed Team USA who took gold.

Everyone knew they’d be good, but few expected them to be quite that good. Yet truth be told, when team anchors Rebecca Hart and Floratina entered the arena to ride for the medal, no one doubted they’d pull it out of the bag. Dutch supporters would’ve been hoping for a mistake – but it never looked likely to come.

As The Star-Spangled Banner blasted out for the last time, their final medal tally stood at seven medals overall – five golds, one silver and one bronze. That smashed their previous Games best of two golds and a bronze. Rebecca and her team-mate – and breakout star – Fiona Howard on Diamond Dunes left as triple gold medallists having set personal bests in all three tests.