• London 2012 - Gymnastics

GB's silver demoted to bronze in gymnastics

Louis Smith excelled on the pommel horse © Getty Images

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Team GB grabbed their first medal in the men's team gymnastics event for 100 years at London 2012 - but saw a silver demoted to bronze after an appeal by the Japanese team.

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GB seemed to be battling for bronze with Ukraine ahead of the final discipline, with China and Japan apparently guaranteed gold and silver respectively. But Japan's Kohei Uchimura buckled on his pommel horse dismount and GB were elevated to silver, with Ukraine taking the bronze and Japan fourth.

However, after an appeal was upheld, Japan went back into the silver position behind China, and Britain had bronze. Uchimura was battling against raucous noise in the North Greenwich Arena at the time of his error, as the home crowd cheered the final British performances.

GB were in fourth place before their last event of six, the floor gymnastics - but three solid, nerveless performances from Max Whitlock, Dan Purvis and Kristian Thomas catapulted them into the medals.

Two mammoth scores earlier in the competition helped propel GB's charge: Louis Smith's 15.966 in the pommel horse, and Thomas' majestic 16.550 in the vault. But all contributed, hauling GB up the standings after they were placed fifth following two rotations.

The US team recorded the highest score in qualifying, only to implode when the final came along, finishing well down the field.

Britain's men got their Olympic hockey campaign off to a winning start as they beat Argentina 4-1 in the Riverbank Arena. Barry Middleton put in a captain's performance to give the hosts a 2-0 lead, before goals from Dan Fox and Richard Smith added gloss to the scoreline. Argentina claimed a late consolation through Pedro Ibarra after a successful video referral.

GB women's basketball team remain without a win at London 2012 they were beaten 73-65 by Canada. The hosts led for much of the final quarter after pegging Canada back, but were unable to hold on for their first victory on their Olympic debut.

In canoeing, both of GB's slalom doubles pairs - Tim Baillie and Etienne Stott, and David Florence and Richard Hounslow - got through to Thursday's semi-final. Baillie and Stott were fourth fastest in qualification, with Florence and Hounslow seventh fastest.

In the beach volleyball, GB pair John Garcia-Thompson and Steve Grotowski were beaten by Brazil's Emanuel Rego and Alison Cerutti in straight sets.

Meanwhile, GB ended the day second in the equestrian team event standings.

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