Britain win lightweight doubles gold

(Reuters)

Britain's Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter won the men's Olympic lightweight double scull on Sunday in commanding style on Lake Shunyi.

The pair pumped the air as they went over the finish line and Purchase stood up to wave to fans after holding off a fast finishing Greek crew of Dimitrios Mougios and Vasileios Polymeros who took silver.

The double world champions from Denmark Mads Rasmussen and Rasmus Quist took bronze, just ahead of Italy.

Britain had started the event as slight favourites after winning all three of this year's World Cup regattas and continued their strong form into the early rounds of the Olympic regatta, winning their heat and semi-final.

They became the first British crew to win the lightweight doubles in the Olympics.