GB’s Bryson misses medal after ill French withdraws

Kerenza Bryson could not add to Great Britain’s medal haul at Paris 2024 as she fell out of contention in the Olympic women’s modern pentathlon.

The 25-year-old junior doctor – who was Team GB’s sole representative in the final because defending champion Kate French withdrew before Sunday’s climax – led overnight after the semi-finals but finished ninth.

Bryson slipped to fifth after the opening showjumping event and dropped to sixth by losing quickly to Italy’s Elena Micheli in the fencing.

Swimming is considered the Briton’s weakest event and, needing a fast 200m freestyle to make up ground, she trailed the rest of the field in her heat.

That left Bryson sitting seventh going into the final event of laser run – which is a 3,000m run, split into five 600m laps and four visits to the shooting range.

She needed to make up a gap of 30 seconds in the time trial to finish on the podium, but that never looked likely.

Hungary’s Michelle Gulyas won gold with a new world record of 1,461 points, just ahead of French veteran Elodie Clouvel, who finished on 1,452.

South Korea’s Seung-min Seong claimed bronze with 1,441 as Bryson ended on 1,404.

Bryson, who is also an army reservist, received a huge ovation from British fans as she jogged around the track with a Union Jack minutes later.

Earlier, French’s chances of matching her medal at Tokyo 2020 were dashed because of sickness.

The 33-year-old was ranked fifth after Saturday’s semi-finals, just four points behind leader Bryson.

“This has been an extremely difficult decision for Kate as she had hoped to defend her Olympic title and ride in the jumping for a final time in Olympic competition,” a Team GB statement said.

After winning gold in Tokyo in 2021, French took a break from the sport in 2023 and only returned to training last August.

Her withdrawal and Bryson’s struggles meant Britain missed out on an Olympic medal in the women’s pentathlon for only the second time – after Rio 2016 – since the event was introduced in 2000.