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Aug 2024
Harrogate-born gymnast wins medal as local Olympic successes mount
Harrogate-born Harry Hepworth became the first British gymnast to win a vault medal at the Olympics on Saturday.
Harry, 20, finished ahead of fellow Brit Jake Jarman, the European champion, who was fourth, but behind gymnasts from the Philippines and Armenia.
He told the BBC:
I don't know how many hours of training have gone into this bit of metal – it's a phenomenal feeling.
It means the world to me, I've worked my whole life for this. I don't even know what's happening right now.
There are hopes of another medal for an athlete with strong local connections today.
Jacob Fincham-Dukes will be one of 12 athletes battling it out in tomorrow’s long jump final, after taking third place in the qualifying round yesterday.
Jacob, 27, attended St John Fisher Catholic High School in Harrogate before taking an MBA at Oklahoma State University.
It's been a good games already for local athletes.
Rower Georgie Brayshaw, who also attended St John Fisher school, won a gold medal last week and Chris Bartle, who owns the Yorkshire Riding Centre at Markington, is the high performance coach of the British eventing team that also won gold.
Ripon diver Jack Laugher struck bronze on Friday in the men's synchronised 3m springboard diving.
However, runner George Mills failed to qualify for tomorrow's 1,500 metres final.
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