British rowers Oliver Wynne-Griffiths and Tom George were pipped on the line as they missed out on men’s pair gold in agonising fashion.
Wynne-Griffiths, from Wales, and George, of England, had to settle for silver after Croatia’s defending champions timed their row to perfection to pinch victory by 0.45 seconds.
The British duo led for the majority of the 2,000m race but were unable to hold off the dynamic charge of brothers Martin and Valent Sinkovic, who went ahead in the closing 20m and celebrated defending their Olympic title by diving into the water at the Vaires-sur-Marne stadium.
Having put in such a huge effort, Wynne-Griffiths and George’s disappointment was clear to see in the immediate aftermath but there were big smiles when they received their medals minutes later.
Their silver is their second Olympic medal after they won bronze in the men’s eight in Tokyo, and Britain’s fifth of the rowing competition in Paris.
They were bidding to become the first British champions in this event since Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matt Pinsent in Atlanta in 1996, and were unbeaten in 2024 having won their first major title at the European Championships in April.