Team GB put in a close performance at the Paris Olympics to win their first Olympic team gold medal since London 2012.

The British trio of Ben Maher, Harry Charles and Scott Brash improved their ranking by just two penalties from their defeat at Versailles, with the USA second and France third.

Their medals come 12 years after Maher, Brash and Charles’ father Peter won team diving gold with Nick Skelton at the London Olympics, and 12 years after GB won gold 60 years ago at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, Charles was just 13 when his father stood on the Olympic podium, but he now joins him in history. He, Maher and Brash won Team GB’s ninth gold medal at the Paris Olympics. The first of these nine also competed in the Equestrian – Team Three Event.

Maher made his GB debut at Bartilli Stadium in Dallas, with the Tokyo 2020 gold medallist winning a one-time penalty as a substitute after the opening match. Charles, 25, recovers with his final Romeo 88 in his second match. They were calm and collected over a few fences but only conceded one penalty before finishing well.

“I knew we had the best guy when Scott came in,” Maher, 41, told BBC Sport. “But we didn’t leave him any room. If he had a fence he would probably be very expensive. To be honest these are the two best rides I’ve seen for a long time. “Our horses can’t do that. I’m proud of this team for not losing every day. “I’m very lucky to be in this position. These guys have done a great job getting me into this position and I want to help them.”

His father’s big-league debut came nine years after his success in London. He broke his arm while tied up while riding in Paris in July. The sport is run by Charles’ family and Harry’s sisters Scully and Sienna are also actors.

When asked if his dad’s gold gift had made him bigger, he said: “It’s not any more pressure. We’re so grateful to Ben and Scott for being a family in London and I can get on the podium with them straight away.

“I grew up watching them. To win an award with them now is beyond my wildest dreams.” “Ben and I are like veterans now,” Brash joked. “Harry is only 25 but he’s already got a lot of experience. He cycled in Tokyo, warmed up a bit there and gave birth today.”

Peter Charles told BBC Sport after Team GB in Paris:

“My dream is to win an Olympic gold medal but the two guys I raced with at his age could do that too.

Nick Skelton came to me and said:

‘There’s no way I’m doing that at my age.’ He said: ‘That’s great.’ “If everything goes well, God willing, there’s more for Harry. “It’s a good time to have fun and spread the game and how great it is.” The heats for the individual steeplechase will take place on Monday with the finals on Tuesday.