British gold medalist initially had mixed feelings about representing their country at the Paris Olympics.

Laura Collett, a member of Team GB, was overjoyed to bring home two medals from the Paris Olympics. She had been feeling a bit down about being British in the months leading up to the event, but her gold medal win in the team event and bronze in the individual event changed everything.

On Monday, at Chateau de Versailles, Collett and her teammates Tom McEwen and Ros Canter dominated the showjumping final, securing Great Britain's first gold medal of the 2024 Games. They were well ahead of their competitors, with France coming in second and Japan taking the bronze.

Later in the day, Collett continued her success by claiming bronze in the individual event, riding London 52 with grace and precision. She was behind gold medalist Michael Jung and silver medalist Christopher Burton, making her the first British woman to win an individual eventing medal since Kristina Cook in 2008.

In recent years, Team GB has become a major player in the world of equestrian, and Collett admits that the intense competition to make the Olympic team made her feel a bit sad to be British. She thought there was no chance of making the team due to its strength, but once she was selected, she was proud and grateful to ride alongside her talented teammates.

"This is a day I'll never ever forget," said Collett, who was emotional after her bronze medal win. "It is a huge team effort and we are very lucky we got selected and could come and make sure we didn't mess up. It's so many years of hard work and blood, sweat and tears."

She continued, saying that the journey to this moment had been an emotional rollercoaster, but every bad day was worth it. She never gave up and never lost hope, and now she realizes that she can never dream too big. This day, she thought, would never come, and she owes it all to her horse and her team.

"I thought Tokyo was special, but this is incomparable," Collett said, reflecting on her experience in Paris. "It has blown that out the water, going out in front of a crowd like this and feeling like every single person is willing you on. This is just a day I will never, ever forget."

Team GB's success in equestrian was just the beginning of a fantastic day for the team in Paris. Several other athletes brought home medals, making it a proud and unforgettable day for the nation.

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