The BC government is extending congratulations to swimmer Ryan Cochrane and the cycling women's team pursuit crew, who captured medals in competition today at the London 2012 Olympic Summer Games.

Cochrane claimed the silver medal in dramatic fashion in the 1,500-metre freestyle, his signature race, when he held off the charge of Tunisian Oussama Mellouli, the 2008 Olympic gold medallist. Mellouli took bronze, while favourite Sun Yang of China captured gold.

Cochrane, from Victoria, finished the endurance test with a time of 14 minutes 39.63 - less than a second ahead of Mellouli. The time was a new personal-best for Cochrane and an Americas record for the men's 1,500. Yang
took gold in 14:31.02, beating his own world record. Cochrane won a bronze medal in the same event at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Meanwhile, Victoria's Gillian Carleton and Coquitlam's Jasmin Glaesser, along with Tara Whitten of Edmonton, took the bronze in cycling team pursuit on Saturday. Their overall time was three minutes 17.915 to beat fourth-place Australia (3:18.096). Great Britain took the gold in a world-record time, while the U.S. team finished second.

Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development says, "Once again, I am so pleased to be offering congratulations to these exceptional BC athletes. The performances today of these incredible competitors were nothing short of amazing, and their collective commitment to their sports is admirable."