Rio 2016: Katherine Grainger becomes most decorated British female Olympian after silver with Victoria Thornley

Poles Fularczyk-Zozlowska and Madaj win gold despite British pair leading for much of the race

British rowers Katherine Grainger and Victoria Thornley faced the agony of missing out on gold, after leading for most of their race, leaving them to settle for silver instead.

The Polish pair pipped them at the last, by just 0.95 seconds, after looking smoother through the second half of the race. With the fourth silver of her career though to add to the gold she won alongside Anna Watkins at London 2012, Grainger becomes the most decorated British female Olympian with her five medals that date back to Syndey 2000.

The British commentator at the Lagoa Stadium said as the pair entered the final 500m that Grainger should be a contenders for the New Year’s Honours and that former Prime Minister David Cameron may have made a mistake in not awarding her one.

The comment proved premature as the pair could not hold the very marginal lead that they had established. But the pair said they were satisfied with their silver medal after a difficult year. The pair have had a rocky ride and difficult relationship coming into this Olympic race.

They were switched to a different discipline after they failed to bond in the way that Grainger and Anna Watkins did, en route to glory at London 2012.

They put their personal differences behind them as they went into an early lead.

It was a fragile one, with the Poles looking comfortable and only half a second behind after 500m, though by 1500m it looked as if the British pair would be able to hold out. Their lead then was 1.25 seconds over the Poles, with the Lithuanians in third.

The two pairs matched each other stroke for stroke in the final metres, with the Poles – Magdalene Fularczyk-Zozlowska and Natalia Madaj pipping the British.