Jump directly to the content
THE GR-EIGHT-EST

Rio Olympics 2016: Sir Bradley Wiggins sticks his tongue out for the national anthem as he jokes on the podium after becoming GB’s most decorated Olympian

SIR Bradley Wiggins had his gold-medal winning team-mates in stitches on the podium - after sticking his tongue out during the national anthem.

Wiggo was in playful mood after becoming Britain's most successful Olympian with a fifth gold - and eighth medal in total.

The 36-year-old pulled a bizarre face after storming to gold in the men's team pursuit last night.

And he had team-mates Ed Clancy, Steven Burke and Owain Doull bursting into laughter as they sang God Save the Queen.

 Wiggo celebrated his golden night by sticking his tongue out as he stood on the podium
8
Wiggo celebrated his golden night by sticking his tongue out as he stood on the podiumCredit: pixel 8000
 The 36-year-old had his team pursuit pals in stitches as they stood to sing the national anthem
8
The 36-year-old had his team pursuit pals in stitches as they stood to sing the national anthemCredit: pixel 8000
 Sir Bradley Wiggins celebrates his fifth Olympic gold medal after beating Australia
8
Sir Bradley Wiggins celebrates his fifth Olympic gold medal after beating AustraliaCredit: Getty Images
 Cycling great Wiggins shares tears and cheers on his historic night in Brazil
8
Cycling great Wiggins shares tears and cheers on his historic night in BrazilCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
 Wiggins kisses wife Catherine after he helped Team GB power back to gold
8
Wiggins kisses wife Catherine after he helped Team GB power back to goldCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Olympic master Wiggins says he would have settled for nothing less than gold
8
Olympic master Wiggins says he would have settled for nothing less than goldCredit: PA:Press Association

Team GB’s brilliant knight rider now has an unmatched tally of five golds, one silver and two bronze medals.

Last night’s powerhouse performance in Rio’s space age cycle arena roared him past Team GB bike legend, Sir Chris Hoy, who won six golds and a silver.

Sir Bradley won a bronze in Sydney in 2000, gold, silver and bronze in Athens in 2004, two golds in Beijing in 2008 and the London 2012 Road Race gold days after his Tour de France triumph.

His victory capped a glorious Day Seven in Rio as Team GB won two more golds in the rowing plus equestrian and trampolining silvers.

 Wiggins shares gold joy with Owain Doull and says he never doubted victory
8
Wiggins shares gold joy with Owain Doull and says he never doubted victoryCredit: Getty Images

 

 Team GB showed their superb cycling form inside the Velodrome with a tight win
8
Team GB showed their superb cycling form inside the Velodrome with a tight winCredit: Reuters

Britain powered home in the last lap and a half after Oz led before that

And we are now on track to chase down the record London Games medal haul.

An army of fans travelled 6,000 miles to cheer the Brits home last night, whooping and waving Union Jacks as they flashed over the finish line.

Wiggins' wife Cathy  - 3l-year-old mum of their son Ben, 11, and nine-year-old daughter Isabella - travelled from their home in Eccleston, Lancs, to roar him home.

The Rio tally reached 21 last night compared to 22 medals at the same stage at London 2012 (eight gold, six silver, eight Bronze) and eight in Beijing 2008 (three Gold, two silver, and three bronze).

Team GB was sitting proudly in fourth place in the medals table last night behind sporting giants America, China and Japan.

Wiggo’s win took the Rio tally to seven golds ,eight silver, and six bronze.

The famously straight-talking star said before the race: “I’m only here for a gold medal.

“I’m not interested in silver or bronze – the golds are the only ones that matter.

“So if I’m sat in front of you with a silver medal after these Games, you can expect me to be pretty p****d off.”

Hoy saluted the cycle star who took his crown as Britain' most decorated Olympian.

He said: “I don’t think him winning a medal of any colour will change his status in the country. He is a legend in the sport already.

“He is the greatest British cyclist we have ever produced.”

Topics