Featured Image Credit: BBC
Topics: Olympics, Fan Reactions
Marcus Chan
19-year-old Toby Roberts has made history for Team GB at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
On Friday afternoon, the boulder and lead climbing event came to a close with two Team GB athletes well in contention to win a medal.
Teenager Roberts from Surrey ended up winning the gold after Japanese athlete Sorato Anraku fell off the wall before reaching the Brit’s score.
It took a moment for Roberts to realise what he had achieved as he looked in disbelief when the camera cut to him.
Roberts has become the first Olympic medalist in a climbing event for Team GB.
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BBC commentator Mike Langley said: “Pick me up off the floor, that is incredible! What has just happened? Toby Roberts, unbelievable. He is The Terminator.
“Look at what it means to him! That is the definition of having a dream, believing in yourself and it coming true.”
Reacting on social media, one fan said: “Toby Roberts - that is one of the most impressive GB Olympic golds that I think I’ve ever seen - how do you do that?!”
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Another said: “Boom, Toby Roberts does it! What a win!!”
A third fan added: “Incredible. Sorato IS human. Team GB GOLD for Toby Roberts in combined climbing! NOBODY saw that coming. But what an amazing lead climb from Toby. The Octopus is Terminated. And the torch has passed to the new generation of talent.”
Speaking after the event, Roberts told the BBC: "I'm lost for words. To find out I got the gold in that moment was truly incredible. He (Sorato Anraku) is an incredibly strong climber, it's insane how strong he is. He looked like he was a bit nervous but he's an incredible guy.
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"I have been training for this moment for my whole life, to say it hasn't sunk in is just an understatement. I don't really know what to think right now but I imagine later there will be a flood of emotions and I will realise it's a goal I've been training towards for 10 years basically."