BRITAIN'S best Olympics since the "Chariots of Fire" Games in 1924 became even better today as Hampshire yachtsmen won more medals.

Winchester's Iain Percy bagged gold in the Finn class while Ian Walker and Emsworth's Mark Covell achieved silver in the Open Star class finishing just one pointbehind the winner.

Together with Ben Ainslie's victory in the Lasers and Shirley Robertson's success in the Europe yesterday, Britain's gold medal haul has risen to nine, equalling the tally for the Paris games in 1924.

Another stunning performance yesterday by Percy meant he had still to finish outside the top ten after an amazingly consistent regatta, unmatched in any other Olympic fleet.

He sealed his place at the top of the podium after beating nearest rival Swedish world champion Fredrik Loof.

Percy, 24, said: "Although it looked like everything was simple, I was still very nervous.

"But I knew what I had to do and I found myself in position halfway through the race where I knew it was going to happen.

"I came for gold, not silver. It was a big lead and I would not forgive myself if I lost it.''

Both Walker and Covell dedicated their medals to the memory of their tragic former crewmates.

Covell's friend Glyn Charles died in a yacht race in 1998, and Walker's pal John Merricks was killed in a bus crash.

Magnus Liljedahl of the USA took gold, while defending champion Torben Grael of Brazil took bronze in the Open Star class.

By yesterday afternoon Britain had 22 medals - eight gold, nine silver and five bronze - and Audley Harrison ensured there will be a boxing gold or silver to follow on Sunday by booking his place in the men's +95kg final. Harrison was a highly convincing 32-16 points winner against Italian Paolo Vidoz and became the first British boxer to reach an Olympic final since 1968 when middleweight Chris Finnegan won gold in Mexico City.

Tim Brabants claimed Britain's first Olympic sprint canoeing medal with a bronze in the men's K1 1,000 metres.

Britain's impressive medal haul has brought great joy to 97-year-old Sir Arthur Marshall who is possibly the only surving member of the 1924 Olympic team.

"It is splendid that today's British team is doing so well," said Sir Arthur.

Sir Arthur was a 21-year-old Cambridge undergraduate when he was chosen to represent Great Britain in Paris as a reserve for the 1600m. He was not called on to run but cheered on fellow team mates to gold including Eric Liddell, the son of a Scottish missionary, in the 400m and Harold Abrahams in the 100m.

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