Breeze blown out in Beijing

Britain's only weightlifter in the Olympics, Michaela Breeze, saw her dream end in agony as she limped through to the end of the competition with a back injury.

29-year-old Breeze lifted her first two attempts at 80kg and 85kg but after her second snatch lift the Devon teacher pulled up injured.

Breeze was Britain's first female weightlifter in the Games when she came ninth in Athens, before going on to lift gold in the Commonwealth Games two years ago.

When the time came for her third lift in Beijing, however, the announcement came that Breeze was injured and could not continue.

Although she did return for the clean and jerk, her back would obviously causing her huge pain although she did bravely complete three lifts and finished in 15th place overall.

Judo chop

Breeze's GB team-mate Sarah Clark also fell at the first hurdle in the women's judo, as she was beaten by Austrian Claudia Heill in the first round.

It was always going to be tough Beijing Science and Technology University gymnasium, facing the silver medallist from four years ago in Athens.

However, 30-year-old Clark led with 39 seconds to go until she was caught by Heill who won by ippon to steal the victory - and Clark was then denied a chance in the repecharge as her conqueror was defeated by reigning world champion Driulis Gonzalez in the next round.

Euan Burton performed better in the men's half middleweight judo, but fell just one result short of contesting a bronze medal match.

After his run for gold was ended in the quarter-final by Ukrainian Roman Gontiak via a Wara-ari, he was defeated by Brazil's Tiago Camilo, when a win would have put him in a match for a bronze.

Edinburgh man Burton had previously comfortably beaten Argentinain Emmanuel Lucenti in his opener, before seeing off Moroccan Safouane Attaf to make it into the last eight.

Burton later beat Colombian Mario Valles to make the repecharge A final but lost out to Camilo.

Disappointments

Athens bronze medal archer Alison Williamson also endured an early exit as she was beaten in the second round of her event, despite qualifying in seventh place on Saturday and being expected to challenge for a medal again.

Williamson beat Chinese Taipei's Wei Pi-Hsiu 108-99 in the first round, but then lost out 112-108 against American Khatuna Lorig.

British fencer Alex O'Connell produced a thrilling comeback in his individual sabre clash with Nikolay Kovalev to come from 14-11 down to 14-14, but the Russian prevailed in what became sudden death and went through 15-14.

Shooter Steve Scott made his Olympic debut in the double trap event, but missed out on the final after finishing in 13th.

Tonia Couch and Stacie Powell competed in the women's synchronised platform diving event, but came home in last place as China took the gold.