HEATHER'S SILVER SERVICE

BRITAIN'S Heather Fell today won Olympic silver for Great Britain in the modern pentathlon.

The 25-year-old, who was cheered on by Prime Minister Gordon Brown during the fencing earlier in the day, finished second behind Germany’s Lena Schoneborn.

Fell’s British team-mate Brit Katy Livingston finished seventh.

Fell, the 2007 European championships silver medallist, had been in second place overall since the fencing competition, in which she won 20 of her 35 duels.

She swam a season’s best in the 200m freestyle swim and retained second place through the equestrian event and into the final 3000m run.

In modern pentathlon, the athletes’ starts are staggered based on the total points they have accumulated in the first four events and the first across the line wins gold.

Fell started 19 seconds behind Schoneborn and managed to almost halve the gap but the German was too far ahead.

Fell, who like Livingston was competing at her first Olympic Games, said: “To have Great Britain come second and seventh is just amazing.

“I was going for it in the run, but I realised it wasn’t going to happen. In the end keeping ahead of third was my biggest worry, so it was quite a relief to get second.

“It was great fun. I’ve had a brilliant time all day and to come second, makes it even better. It’s been amazing to compete in front of so many people.”

Better

Livingston added: “I can’t complain with seventh, My fence was quite average today, but the other four events went well and I had a pb in the swim.

“It’s been brilliant being here and the fact that Heather won has made it even better.”

Nevertheless, a silver medal extended Britain’s successful recent record in Olympic modern pentathlon.

Steph Cook won gold and Kate Allenby claimed bronze in 2000 while Georgina Harland finished third for Britain at the Athens Games four years ago.