BBC Scotland at the Olympics

Image source, Getty Images

It was a disappointing night for the two Scots in the 4x100m mixed medley relay final, as Great Britain lost their crown after finishing seventh.

Kathleen Dawson and Duncan Scott were part of the quartet which won gold in Tokyo but the Great Britain team finished well behind winners the United States, who also broke Britain's world record.

Dawson went off in the backstroke first, with Scott going on the butterfly leg third rather than on the freestyle, which was raced by Anna Hopkin.

James Wilby stood in for Adam Peaty on the breaststroke, with the multiple medallist struggling with his fitness after this morning's heats having had Covid-19.

Britain were behind from the start and never recovered to challenge for the medals, finishing over six seconds behind the Americans who set a new best time of three minutes 37.43 seconds.

China picked up silver and Australia claimed bronze.

Duncan Scott was unable to add to his Olympic medal haul as he and fellow Scot Kathleen Dawson could only finish seventh in the final as part of the Team GB mixed 4x100m medley relay team.

The British were defending champions and world record holders.

Dawson swam the opening backstroke, Scott dived in third for the butterfly, with Anna Hopkin and James Wilby on the other disciplines.

However, Gretchen Walsh and Torri Huske made the most of the lead that Ryan Murphy and Nic Finke handed them to win for United States in a new world record time.

Richard Winton
BBC Sport Scotland at Paris La Defense Arena

Image source, PA Media

Katie Shanahan finished a creditable fifth in the 200m backstroke final to complete an admirable first Olympic Games.

The 20-year-old from Glasgow, who told BBC Scotland before travelling to Paris that her focus is already on Los Angeles in four years, posted a time of two minutes 7.53 seconds to edge out GB team-mate Honey Osrin.

However, after finishing seventh in the 400m individual medley earlier in the week, Shanahan is taking satisfaction from reaching the finals of both her events.

"I am over the moon with this week," she told BBC Sport. "I couldn't have asked for much more. Two months ago, I was debating whether I could get here.

"Hopefully, this season is the first of many Olympics for me and hopefully I'll be competing for the medals [in the future]."

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland at Stade de France

Scotland’s Jemma Reekie is safely through to the semi-finals of the 800m at the Olympics.

Reekie won her heat comfortably in a fraction over two minutes.

“It wasn't the plan today, but I take it as it comes and I am in good shape to run out whatever way,“ the Team GB athlete told BBC Sport.

“I managed that [personal best] run in London and it shows when it matters, but now I have to negotiate the semis which will be tough.”

Reekie, who finished fourth in Tokyo three years ago, will run in the next round on Sunday night.

Fellow British athletes Phoebe Gill and medal favourite Keely Hodgkinson are also through.

Image source, Reuters

Richard Winton
BBC Sport Scotland in Paris

Image source, PA Media

Fynn Sterritt and partner James Peters missed out on a medal in the rescheduled final of the men's skiff.

The Kingussie sailor and his crew-mate were seventh after the 12 qualifying races and were unable to advance from that position in the waters off Marseille.

Richard Winton
BBC Sport Scotland in Paris

Image source, EPA

Judy Murray remains frustrated by the lack of legacy from the career of her son Andy after he played in the final match of his career at the Olympic Games.

The two-time gold medallist and partner Dan Evans lost to American duo Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul in the quarter-finals of the men's doubles at Roland Garros on Thursday. Prior to Paris, the 37-year-old announced it would be his last event.

"What he has done has changed the face of British tennis," said his mother, a former tennis coach, after the defeat. "I suppose if I had a wish, I wish we had more in Scotland to show for it.

"I think people get sick of hearing that we’ll never have another Andy or [brother and doubles grand slam winner] Jamie Murray, but they’ve built this enormous fan base in Scotland and all over the world, so why shouldn’t we?”

The Lawn Tennis Association recently pledged £5m to construct a new community tennis centre near the Murrays' home town of Dunblane.

The project, led by Judy, includes plans for a multi-sport site with outdoor tennis and padel courts, but she has spoken out in the past about the lack of funding for public courts across Scotland.

“It’s a charitable foundation and we are really looking forward to giving back, so why shouldn’t there be another Andy and Jamie Murray?”

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland at Stade de France

Neil Gourley says he soaked in competing at a packed Stade de France after a "horrible winter" of injuries, as he reached the 1500m semi-finals.

The Glasgow runner made a late charge to come fifth in his heat, meaning he goes straight through to Sunday's penultimate stage rather than having to race again on Saturday.

"I had to take a moment to soak it all in after my race," he told BBC Scotland.

"For a morning session of athletics to see 80,000 heads is really quite something.

"As for the race itself it was a box check, job done. It wasn't an easy heat you don't get easy heats at the Olympic Games.

"I didn't find myself in the best spot with 200m to go but I just stayed patient and using that gear when I gambled round the outside.

"It wasn't necessarily Plan A but it worked out fine just the same.

"It was a good warm up for what's to come in the semi-final, which will be another level and I'll have to be sharper tactically."

Gourley says a disrupted winter plagued by injuries was tough to take, but may also have helped him come in feeling fresh.

"I had a couple of pretty severe injuries, and there were times when the Olympics didn't look likely to be honest," Gourley admitted.

"In a way it might have been a blessing in disguise.

"I've come here with uninterrupted training these last few months and it's gone from strength to strength.

"Thankfully I've come here the healthiest I've ever been - there's nothing really holding me back at the moment.

"I'm excited at that prospect."

Image source, PA Media

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter in Paris

Image source, PA Media

A distraught Seonaid McIntosh admits it will "take a while" to get over failing to make the Olympic final in the 50m three position rifle event.

As a world champion and a world number one in the discipline, the 28-year-old travelled to Paris as one of Scotland's strongest gold medal hopes.

But McIntosh finished 12th in the qualifiers, with only the top eight progressing to Friday's final.

"I think it is going to take a while [to get over] certainly," she told BBC Sport.

"I was fourth in one World Cup this year and won all the others, so I am really struggling to come to terms with it and I think it is going to take a while."

"I’m incredibly disappointed. I sobbed into my dad's chest for a bit, my boyfriend was here, and my mum and my two best friends, so it was really nice they were here and I got to see them afterwards."

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland at Stade de France

Image source, Reuters

Well, that was a fairly serene morning on the track for Scotland's 1500m world champion Josh Kerr.

The 26-year-old from Edinburgh eased through to win his heat having lingered at the back for a bit longer than he would have liked.

He looked incredibly relaxed on the track and as he trailed through the winding mixed zone at Stade de France.

He stopped for about eight or nine interviews, including one for BBC Scotland.

Kerr even craned his neck amidst speaking to make sure he saw his fellow Scot Neil Gourlay cross the line to qualify from the third heat.

"It's what I do best," he said of finally getting out on the track.

"Just getting the first round out the way and feeling the legs. Knowing they're exactly where they're supposed to be is always good.

"Sometimes you come in off the travel a bit lackadaisical. I kept my head on straight and made sure I was up the front near the end.

"It was the plan - although I didn't want to be in last place. I wasn't really worried about it.

"These are the moments we dream of as kids. To come in with this fitness, you don't want to let it go very easily.

"So I just need to stay with my head screwed on for the next couple of days and stay away from any problems. I'll hopefully get through these rounds smoothly and then it's time to close."

On what the next couple of days look like before Sunday's semi-final, Kerr added: "It's pretty boring stuff man, it's not documentary-worthy. You get the right nutrition in and the right sleep and come off this one pretty good."