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Rio 2016: Day five preview – Whitlock and Wilson hungry for gymnastics success

The narrative of the gymnastics team final saw as many twists and turns as the actual competition itself with Great Britain narrowly missing out on a medal.

But with the individual finals providing a shot at redemption, it will be Max Whitlock and Nile Wilson to step up first and show that Team GB can mix it with the world’s best.

Both will contest the all-around final – it was Wilson who scored better in qualifying, finishing with the fifth best score with Whitlock in 12th place.

But it is perhaps Whitlock, who finished fifth in the all-around at last year’s World Championships, who presents GB’s best chance of a medal.

Another athlete with a point to prove is Chris Froome, who will contest the time trial looking to take gold at the second opportunity at these Games after finishing out of the medals in the road race.

And with GB being offered another spot after a number of withdrawals, he will be joined by teammate Geraint Thomas. 

There are as many as nine other events in which Britain could realistically reach the podium at Rio 2016 on day five.

Divers Jack Laugher and Chris Mears will go in the men’s 3m synchro, Emma Pooley will be Britain’s sole representative in the women’s time trial and Andrew Willis and Duncan Scott will lead the medal charge in the pool in the 200m breaststroke and 100m freestyle respectively.

Joe Clarke will bid for Team GB’s first canoe slalom medal after the agony suffered by David Florence on day four – he goes in the K1 semi-finals to start with – and at Lagoa the men’s quadruple sculls are in finals action.

Steve Scott and Tim Kneale have hopefully taken inspiration from teammate Ed Ling’s trap bronze with the men’s double trap pencilled in while Sally Conway takes to the dojo in the women’s -70kg judo category.

Rebekah Tiler competes in weightlifting’s 69kg category to complete the medal opportunities with a host of other Team GB athletes hoping to boost their push to the podium out and about in Rio.

There are also semi-finals in the rowing for the men’s lightweight double sculls and four and women’s pair – featuring Helen Glover and Heather Stanning – and lightweight double sculls also.

Patrick Huston was the first Team GB athlete to compete at the Games on Friday and begins the elimination phase in the archery, while boxer Qais Ashfaq fights for the first time in the bantamweight category.

Team GB’s rugby sevens outfit return against New Zealand aiming to make it three wins from three before the quarter-finals and Johanna Konta faces a busy day on court in the tennis.

She plays Angelique Kerber in the singles quarter-finals and will return with Jamie Murray to start their mixed doubles campaign. Wimbledon champion and Team GB flagbearer Andy Murray faces Fabio Fognini in the third round.

It’s the turn of Team GB’s dressage riders in Deodoro with Spencer Wilton and Fiona Bigwood competing while both the men’s and women’s hockey teams are in pool action against Australia and Argentina respectively.

And the sailing regatta continues at Marina da Gloria with the men’s and women’s 470 and mixed Nacra 17 fleets joining the already ongoing Finn, Laser and Laser Radial competitions with the RS:X on a rest day.

Image courtesy of British Gymnastics via YouTube, with thanks.

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