Watford-born Abigail Edmonds, competing for Team GB in the women’s kayak K2 500m sprint, was delighted with her efforts despite missing out on a place in the Olympic final today.

The 21-year-old and her race partner, Louisa Sawers, managed to sneak through to the semi-finals after finishing in fifth place in their heat with a time of 1.46.564.

Buoyed by the Eton Dorney crowd, the pair improved on their time to finish in 1.46.025, but that still left them in seventh place.

Despite finishing five seconds behind semi-final winners Franziska Weber and Tina Dietze from Germany, the pair can be pleased with their efforts and now go in Thursday’s B final.

“Going from the heats, there were a few things to learn. This race, I think we nailed it,” said Edmonds. “I really enjoyed it, we've been training on this lake for three years now and I haven't seen it like this.

"Lane one is not the best, but you can't change that. We're used to a crosswind, but crosswind or not I feel we've done well to be here."

Sawers added: "When the crowd calls out your name, it feels so good. They were lifting us up the whole time.”