Beaten Brits still in with a chance

John Whitaker's horse, Calvaro, is prepared for action

Great Britain's show jumpers finished a disappointing eighth in Thursday's Olympic team competition.

However, BBC Sport's Lee McKenzie points out that they still have three more opportunities of winning a medal.

Despite finishing well out of the medals behind Germany, Switzerland and Brazil, the British show-jumping team have given themselves one last chance of taking something home with them.

John Whitaker (riding Calvaro), Michael Whitaker (Prince of Wales) and Geoff Billington (It's Otto) all finished in the top 45 and therefore qualified for Sunday's "individual" final, in which gold, silver and bronze medals are again up for grabs.

In theory, between them, they could win all three - though that, of course, is being a shade unrealistic.

Whitaker still has a chance of claiming a medal

The opposition from their rival nations is too strong for comfort, with current World Champion Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil leading the way.

He has produced some immaculate performances on his horse Baloubet Du Rouet, reputed to be worth around £2m.

However, John Whitaker showed on Thursday that Britain can still come up with the goods when they are at their best.

Following a disastrous display on Calvaro three days earlier, he bounced back with two excellent rounds to lift himself from the also-rans into the top 45 with a bit to spare.

After finding himself without an Olympic horse of his own, John decided to lease Calvaro from his brother Michael and set about forging a partnership with the big horse.

By his own admission, he would ideally have liked another year to get to know him even better - but there were signs on Thursday that the combination is beginning to gel.

Prince of Wales has yet to reach his peak on this trip, and It's Otto continues to be potentially brilliant but unpredictable, but Calvaro must have a chance of giving the British team something to shout about on Sunday.

With so many top-class riders and horses from other countries in opposition, it's going to be very tough - but at least their prospects look rather better now than they did at the start of the week.