Team GB secure their first gold at Paris 2024 Olympics as equestrian team beat hosts France to eventing title... as they defend Olympic crown for first time since 1972

Team GB have won their first gold medal of Paris 2024 as Ros Canter, Tom McEwen and Laura Collett were crowned team eventing champions at the Chateau de Versailles.

The eventing team headed into the showjumping final on Monday with a slender lead over second-place nation France.

Team GB had scored well in both the dressage and cross country to lead the standings on 82.5, with France following on 87.2.

The lead could have been greater had organisers not rejected an able from the cross-country event, after Canter was controversially given a penalty after clipping a flag when clearing a gate.

Canter was first to tackle the showjumping section of the event, receiving just four penalties in the round on Lordships Graffalo. 

McEwen then put Team GB on the brink of gold by producing a clean round on JL Dublin

It was left to Collett, riding on London 52, to complete the job as the final rider to go in the event.

Collet received four penalties on her round with her round enough to secure the team title.

The triumph has helped to lift a cloud that has hovered over British equestrian since the Charlotte Dujardin horse-whipping scandal erupted last Tuesday, with Team GB having defended their Olympic team eventing title for the first time since 1972.

Hosts France secured the silver medal, with Japan completing the podium by clinching bronze.

Team GB finished with a winning score of 91.30, with a strong margin of victory over France who ended on 103.60 as the runner-up.

Collett led the British celebrations after completing her round, but suffered a blow to her hopes in the individual event having clipped the final fence.

She would fall to third in the individual standings with a total of 23.10 penalties across the three disciplines.

Germany’s Michael Jung, a two-time individual Olympic champion, leads on 21.80 with Australia's Christopher Burton second on 22.40.

McEwen is also in contention for the medals with the British star fourth, while Canter also qualified for the individual final.