Georgina Harland
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Olympic medalist
Britain's Georgina Harland produced a superb comeback in the 3000m run to claim a modern pentathlon olympic bronze medal. |
Harland, starting the last of the five events in 14th place and 49 seconds adrift of third place, overtook 12 fellow competitors to win a medal. Harland, the world number one and European champion, appeared to have ruined her medal chances in the opening event, the shooting. She scored just 156 points out of 200 shots, leaving her in 30th place, third from last.
"I am so chuffed, really, really chuffed," Harland said.
"This morning it was all a bit rusty but in the pentathlon you never give up."
"When things were down I just kept reminding myself my best events were still out there - the running and swimming and riding."
"There was pressure on me to get a medal and maybe I lost it a bit in the shooting at the beginning but that's me - I like to keep everyone on tenterhooks right to the end!"
The 26-year-old did it just a fortnight after suffering a stress fracture of her right leg. After the medal ceremony, the Harland family headed off for a celebratory meal with Britain's three-day eventing team silver medallist William Fox-Pitt.
Leon Paul would like to congratulate Georgina on here Olympic achievement.
To read more about her achievement please visit:
Modern pentathlon of Great Britain
bbc.co.uk Modern Pentathlon
World Pentathlon organisation
Georgina stunned the world of modern pentathlon
in 1997 by taking a silver medal in the Junior World
Championships just six months after taking up the
sport and has not looked back since, winning several
international medals, including a gold as a member
of the relay team in the 1999 world championships,
which she dubbed "a glorious victory",
and individual bronze at the 2001 World Championships.
She is very strong contender for a medal in the
2004 Olympic games.
She is proud of her many achievements in pentathlon,
but is equally proud of her contribution to the
building of a primary school in Chile when she went
as a student to South America through Operation
Raleigh International.
Her advice is to take every opportunity that is
offered and not be afraid to take risks.
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