Tokyo Olympics: Team GB secure their first women’s team gymnastics medal in 93 YEARS with bronze

Team GB secure their first women’s team gymnastics medal in 93 YEARS after producing stunning fightback to take bronze having been SEVENTH earlier in the competition… with 16-year-old twins Jennifer and Jessica Gadirova starring

Great Britain claimed a first women’s team gymnastics medal since 1928 as they delivered an extraordinary bronze at the Tokyo Olympics.

The team of Alice Kinsella, Amelie Morgan and 16-year-old twins Jennifer and Jessica Gadirova impressed throughout and moved above Italy in the final rotation.

The Britons totalled 164.096, with the Russian Olympic Committee taking gold and the US team settling for silver for the first time since 2008.

Great Britain produced an incredible fightback to claim a bronze medal in the gymnastics

The team success for the women is Britain's first since the Amsterdam Games of 1928

The team success for the women is Britain’s first since the Amsterdam Games of 1928

Medal hopes looked to fading after the first two pieces of apparatus which saw British as low as seventh but after working their way back up the standings, A 14.033 from Morgan on the final floor helped land the unexpected bronze.

USA’s Simone Biles’ bid to claim her first Olympic gold medal of the Tokyo Games suffered a major setback as she was forced to withdraw after one rotation.

Biles misjudged her opening vault, scoring 13.766, the lowest of the first rotation, before leaving the floor briefly with the US team trainer.

Although the 24-year-old returned, she put on her tracksuit and did not compete again as the Americans finished second.

Alice Kinsella of Britain in action on the balance beam as Team GB recovered from a slow star

Alice Kinsella of Britain in action on the balance beam as Team GB recovered from a slow star

USA were forced to settle for silver with key star Simone Biles picking up an injury early on

USA were forced to settle for silver with key star Simone Biles picking up an injury early on

It was a stunning blow for the USA, as the team’s relatively poor start on the vault had already left the ‘Russian Organising Committee’ – who won last night’s men’s team competition – a full point ahead.

That is a huge lead in gymnastic competition. Team USA tonight said she had left the competition because of a ‘medical issue.’

Biles proceeded to put on her tracksuit, as her name was withdrawn from starting list for all other disciplines. She had been slated to appear in all four.

She remained with the USA team, shouting encouragement at teammate Grace McCallum. She hugged one of her coaches and put her socks back on, moments before the USA team announced she would play no further part in the contest dominated by the Russian athletes.

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