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Rowing duo Katherine Grainger and Vicky Thornley claim Olympic silver medal for Britain

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 09:  Victoria Thornley and Katherine Grainger of Great Britain compete during the Women's Sculls Semifinal on Day 4 of the
Image: Victoria Thornley and Katherine Grainger added another medal for Great Britain

Great Britain's Katherine Grainger and Vicky Thornley claimed a silver medal in the women's double sculls at the Rio Olympics.

The 40-year-old Grainger became Britain's most decorated female Olympian with five medals after she and Thornley finished behind first-placed Poland, while Lithuania took bronze.

Grainger entered the race as defending champion following her gold medal success with Anna Watkins at London 2012, but only returned to the sport two years ago after completing a PHD.

The British duo appeared to be in touching distance of gold when they opened a 1.25secs lead heading into the final stretch, only for Poland's Magdalena Fularczyk-Kozlowska and Natalia Madaj to snatch gold by 0.95 seconds.  

Great Britain's Katherine Grainger (right) and Victoria Thornley finish in silver following the women's doubles sculls final A at the Lagoa Stadium on the
Image: Grainger (right) claimed her fifth medal for Great Britain

But Grainger still wrote her name in the record books as she moved ahead of four-time swimming medallist Rebecca Adlington.

Earlier in the afternoon, Great Britain's Alan Sinclair and Stewart Innes just missed out on a medal in the men's pair final.

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The Inverness-Henley combination entered the final 500 metre in the silver medal position, but were overpowered in the closing stages as they finished fourth.

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