Mark England says Team GB's biggest names gave group Rio boost
By Andrew Dickson
Last Updated: 23/08/16 3:45pm
Team GB Chef de Mission Mark England has paid tribute to the squad's highest-profile members for the impact they had on the rest of the group in Rio.
Among the British gold medal winners were Justin Rose - who beat Henrik Stenson to first place on golf's return to the Olympics - and Andy Murray, who retained his men's singles tennis title.
Both are huge names in their respective sports and England believes they added some star quality which has sometimes been missing from Team GB squads of the past.
He also feels they inspired their team-mates as the Brits enjoyed their best-ever away Games and surpassed the medal total recorded in London four years ago.
England said: "We had some very, very high-profile athletes in the team in a way that we hadn't necessarily had before.
"Justin Rose is a good example of that [along with] Andy Murray, who was defending his title from London.
"Andy was flagbearer and he spoke to all of the team before the opening ceremony, those that were marching.
"He spoke really eloquently about the importance of being part of Team GB, the importance of one Team GB and the importance of everybody doing what they could to replicate London.
"Justin, on the journey, has been absolutely outstanding, not only in the support of the Great Britain Olympic team but also golf in the Olympics as well.
"To have athletes of that stature in addition to athletes who have medalled in five consecutive Games such as Katherine Grainger and others who were defending titles - which they did absolutely successfully, right across the board - was a very powerful thing."
