For Samantha Murray and Kate French the pressure is on to continue Team GB’s fantastic record in modern pentathlon at the Olympics.
Since the sport was introduced for women in 2000, Team GB have won a female individual medal at every Games – Stephanie Cook taking the inaugural title with team-mate Kate Allenby taking bronze. Then in Athens, Team GB’s Deputy Chef de Mission for Rio 2016 Georgina Harland claimed bronze and Heather Fell won silver at Beijing 2008. Murray kept the run going in London with a silver and will kick off today’s competition alongside teammate French hoping that the pattern can continue. Murray – world champion in 2014 but fifth last year at the same event – has the experience of London on her side, as French makes her Games debut. But the duo are undaunted by the history behind them. “I am really soaking up the atmosphere in the Olympic Village and enjoying the momentum that Team GB have gained in Rio. It is a really unique atmosphere and I am really happy to be here. It is such an amazing place,” said Murray. “I am really looking forward to starting competition now. It has been such a long build up and I have known I would be competing in the Games for a while, so I am ready now to go out there and give it my best. “I want to go out and do myself justice, and feel that in each event I perform as well as I know I can. I am not really thinking about anything too specific, I just want to go out there and do my best and enjoy myself. “ French added: “I am really excited about competing and I feel ready. It is quite surreal being here, but I can’t wait to start now. “I feel like I am in the best shape I have been in. I am more of an all-rounder than being a stand-out at one specific event, so I will take each event at a time and try to stay consistent.” On the men’s side, Team GB have two debutants in Joe Choong and Jamie Cooke. Cooke is the more experienced at 25 and finished ninth at the worlds this year while Choong at only 21 is a potential star of the future. And the youngster admits he is happy to fly below the radar in Rio – despite an impressive 13th place finish in last year’s Rio test event. “I am feeling in good shape, probably the best of the season. At the World Championships I unfortunately got food poisoning, but before then I felt in great shape. I just want to go out there and perform to the best of my ability,” he said. “I definitely feel like the underdog, but that also means there less attention on me. It means I can quietly get along with my business and hopefully surprise some people.” Sportsbeat 2016