It’s two years on from Super Saturday at the London 2012 Olympic Games so we’re taking a look back at that summer and giving out the Team GB Yearbook awards. Here is your Class of 2012:
There’s no better person to oversee this class of 2012. After heading the successful bid for London 2012, Lord Coe then chaired the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and addressed the nation and the watching world during the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Since London, Lord Coe has taken up a role with Team GB as the chairman of the British Olympic Association.
Team GB’s flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony and two gold medals in London made Sir Chris the country’s most successful ever Olympian. The sprint specialist retired with six golds in total and joint holder of the total number of medals (seven) with fellow cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins… Not much of a contest who wins this one.
Jess was the poster girl of London 2012 and delivered a near perfect performance across all seven heptathlon events and recorded a British record in doing so. Jess chalked up three personal bests during the Games and won the final event, the 800m, to seal gold on Super Saturday. A shoe-in for our Head Girl of 2012.
When Team GB’s coxless pair of Helen Glover and Heather Stanning won the country’s first gold of London 2012 at Lake Dorney, little did they know the trend they would set for the team during the Games. Team GB finished with 29 golds and 65 medals in total, the best haul since 1908 and enough to secure third spot on the medal table.
Team GB’s cycling golden couple didn’t let romance get in the way of sporting success at London 2012. The velodrome specialists won four Olympic golds between them two years ago as Team GB cyclists dominated the track. Not even David Beckham could distract them from their two-wheeled triumphs – or each other.
Tom Daley’s a popular lad, isn’t he? After winning his bronze medal at London the whole Team GB diving squad celebrated his success by jumping into the pool with him. And it’s not just in Britain where Tom’s loved. During London 2012 Twitter announced Tom as the third most talked about athlete of the Games, just behind Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt. Pretty impressive company to be keeping.
Nicola Adams made history at London 2012 by becoming the first ever female to be crowned Olympic boxing champion after defeating the then world number one Ren Cancan from China. But aside from her boxing brilliance, Adams was a Team GB hit due to her bubbly personality and, of course, that winning smile.
Sir Ben’s efforts on the seas during London 2012 etched his name into the history books after gold in the Finn class confirmed his status as the most successful sailor in Olympic Games history. Sir Ben now has four gold and one silver medal to his name and is our undisputed King of the Waves.
By the end of London 2012 Mo Farah was almost as famous for this ‘Mobot’ celebration as he was for becoming double Olympic gold medallist. Even Usain Bolt was getting in on the act by the end of the Games as Mobot fever swept across the Olympic Park and the rest of the country.
It was a sense of déjà vu for Andy Murray during London 2012 as he stepped out onto Centre Court to face Roger Federer, the man who had beaten him to the Wimbledon men’s title just a month earlier. But the gold medal match saw a turn in fortunes for the Team GB man, as Murray dispatched his Swiss opponent in straight sets to take gold and kick-start a remarkable 19-match unbeaten run on grass.
Many Team GB athletes have followed in the footsteps of family members to compete at the Olympic Games but the experience was extra special for Zara Phillips when her mother presented her with her silver medal. Princess Anne, who competed at the 1976 Montreal Games, was on duty at the medal ceremony when daughter Zara and her team collected their equestrian team eventing medals. It’s a family affair.