Mason jumps to silver for Britain

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Video - Silver joy for jumper Germaine

Germaine Mason captured Great Britain's first athletics medal in Beijing as he claimed high jump silver behind Russian Andrey Silnov.

The 25-year-old, who switched allegiance from Jamaica in 2006, cleared 2.34m at the first attempt to win a medal on his Olympic debut.

"I'm very proud to be the first medallist," he told BBC Sport.

Favourite Silnov secured gold as he was the only athlete to clear 2.36m, with Russian Yaroslav Rybakov taking bronze.

Defending champion Stefan Holm managed 2.32m and may now postpone retirement.

For the first time since 1952, Britain had three representatives in an Olympic high jump final.

Tom Parsons and Martyn Bernard both comfortably cleared 2.25m but failed to go any further.

Parsons failed in all three attempts at 2.29m while Bernard failed at 2.32m. They finished eighth and ninth respectively.

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Video - Mason delighted with silver medal

Mason failed at his first attempt at 2.29m but then opted to pass on that height, moving on to clear 2.32m and 2.34m with ease.

"I was so excited, I'm happy I came here and delivered silver for Great Britain," said Mason, the cousin of British sprinter Simeon Williamson.

"I've been working for this for four years of my life and it feels like heaven.

"This means so much for me. This is the second greatest thing. Thank you to UK Athletics for giving me this opportunity to represent Great Britain."

Mason clattered the bar on all three efforts at 2.36m - a height which he is yet to clear in his career - but Rybakov also failed at that height and lost out to the Briton on countback.

In 2003, Mason claimed World Indoor bronze for Jamaica and still holds the national record there but was persuaded to switch allegiance by his mother.

He is eligible to represent Britain because his father David was born in London and his change in nationality was ratified by athletics' governing body, the IAAF, in 2006.

He arrived in Beijing without the pressure of medal expectations after a relatively low-key season.

But the 25-year-old, who trains in Texas with coach Sue Humphrey, warmed up for the Games with 2.31m at Crystal Palace at the end of July and carried that form into the Games.