Team GB enjoy best start to an Olympic Games in 44 YEARS after medals in diving and cycling on Day One... with Adam Peaty eyeing up gold after impressive qualifying display

Britain enjoyed their best start to an Olympics in 44 years, as cyclist Anna Henderson and diving duo Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen shone on the first day of these Paris Games.

Team GB had not won a medal on Day One of a Games since 2004, but Harper and Mew Jensen broke that curse with a bronze in the women’s three-metre springboard synchronised diving final.

Henderson then secured a surprise silver in a rain-soaked cycling time trial to give Britain two opening-day gongs for the first time since Moscow in 1980. Team GB hope to win their first gold on Sunday, with Adam Peaty qualifying fastest for the 100 metres breaststroke final.

Harper and Mew Jensen clinched their bronze Saturday morning in a dramatic final, clinching bronze after Australian pair Anabelle Smith and Maddison Keeney made a mess of their last dive.

It was Britain’s first Olympic medal in women’s diving for 64 years. ‘To come away with the first medal in so long in women’s diving is incredible,’ said Harper, who celebrates her 24th birthday today.

Mew Jensen, 22, who only recovered from a back fracture a month ago, added: ‘I can’t quite believe it. It’s a dream come true.’

Henderson has recovered from twice breaking her collarbone this year to claim Olympic silver. ‘It has been a really rough year, so to achieve a goal like this is unbelievable,’ said the 25-year-old.