Proud Olympic performance from Devon participants

Proud is the name and proud is the feeling, as the Olympians representing Devon have contributed to a wonderful celebration of sport in Paris.

There have been so many special highlights in the Olympics and the long-awaited silver medal for swimmer Ben Proud was right up there with the best moments.

The graduate of Plymouth College and Marjon University has enjoyed a superb career in the pool, winning World, European and Commonwealth medals, but the Olympic prize had eluded him until Paris.

Racing in the blue riband 50m freestyle, Proud won silver, finishing just milliseconds behind Australian champion Cameron McEvoy.

Devon delight in the pool continued with Honey Osrin finishing seventh in the 200m backstroke final, although she was apparently a little fortunate to escape disqualification in the semi-final after appearing to swim beyond the regulation 15m underwater at the start.

Torquay’s Tom Fannon, representing Ireland at the Games, swam superbly to reach the semi-finals of the 50m freestyle, breaking the Irish record in the process.

Torquay teenager Abigail Martin enjoyed a fairytale Olympic debut as part of the Team GB gymnastics squad, performing fabulous routines on the floor to help Britain finish fourth in the all-around final.

Back to the pool, and Plymouth’s diving legend Tom Daley cemented his place in the history with a silver medal alongside Noah Williams in the men’s synchronised 10m platform.

There was a heartbreak on the hockey pitch for Totnes goalkeeper Ollie Payne, as Team GB lost out to India in a quarter-final penalty shootout, while Giselle Ansley from Kingsbridge was unable to steer her team past tournament favourites Netherlands, losing 3-1 in the last eight.

Exmouth’s Ben Lane performed very well alongside Sean Vendy but they were unfortunately knocked out at the group stage of the badminton doubles, while there was glory on the rowing lake.

Jacob Dawson from Plymouth formed part of the men’s eight who won a sensational gold medal, just ahead of the Netherlands and United States. Chloe Brew, also from Plymouth, finished sixth in the B semi-final of the women’s coxless pairs. Sailor Freya Black, who trains at Dawlish Warren, was just unable to make the finals of the Women’s Skiff.

Still to come for Devon is Kerenza Bryson and Myles Pillage in the Modern Pentathlon.