Congratulations to our local Olympic winners, Andy Triggs Hodge and Zac Purchase, after their rowing triumphs at the weekend.

Not only do they represent sporting excellence, they also embody the Olympic spirit the Games are all about.

Mr Triggs Hodge, who lives off Cowley Road, is truly one of the best in the world after taking home gold with fellow members of the men’s rowing four. He has earned his honeymoon — delayed for almost two years because of training — and we wish the couple well.

Special mention must also go to Zac Purchase. It would take a heart of stone not to have felt sorry for the poor chap after he and rowing partner Mark Hunter missed out on a gold medal on Saturday.

They were both clearly distraught they came so close only to fall behind in the closing seconds of a thrilling race.

Mr Hunter went so far as to apologise for “letting everyone down”. Nothing could be further from the truth.

A silver at the Olympic Games is a triumph few achieve, and the hard work of all involved set the perfectly example for the young sportsmen of the future.