Team GB in tears as Italians 'p***ed off' with rowers after near crash at Tokyo Olympics

He added: “If I was on the Italian crew, I’d have my hand up now and I would be appealing because that cost the Italians at least a silver medal.”

Cook admitted after the race that he was the one who was looking after the steering for the British team.

And he broke down in tears as he apologised to his team after the race.

“I need to diagnose it but I feel I screwed up a bit and as I was closing in at the end and taking big strokes at the end going for the line I forgot the steering and that’s what cost us to be honest, cost us a medal,” he said.

“All I can say is thank you to everyone who stayed up to watch tonight and I’m really sorry we’re not coming back with something.

“I’m really proud of these guys to get us through this season. I had Covid at the beginning of the year and to get here was not a given.”

source: express.co.uk