Welsh cyclist Owain Doull admitted he was in dreamland after he helped Sir Bradley Wiggins become Britain’s most successful Olympian in history.
The pair won gold in the men’s team pursuit in world-record time in Rio on Friday night, together with teammates Ed Clancy and Steven Burke.
Great Britain narrowly defeated arch-rivals and reigning world champions Australia in a searing 3min 50.265sec on the second day of track cycling at the Rio 2016 Games.
Wiggins has now won five Olympic gold medals and eight in total, moving him ahead of Sir Chris Hoy’s tally of seven medals and two clear of Sir Steve Redgrave’s total of six.
Cardiff rider Doull – who won his first Olympic medal to emulate the feats of Geraint Thomas in 2008 and 2012 – reflected: “That was just surreal. It feels dreamlike.
“We’ve been in situations like that before when we’ve been so close and have lost so to pull it off now is unbelievable.”
Doull had previously won silver medals at the 2015 and 2016 World Championship – this year to the Australian team – but he earned Olympic redemption to add to the four Welsh silver medallists in Rio.
“I’ve dreamt of this moment for so long. It’s what gets you out of the bed in the morning.
“I’ve pictured crossing that line first and winning the Olympics and to finally be here and do it, it’s just surreal. It’s a culmination of four years of hard work.”
Clancy has now won three Olympic golds – all in the team pursuit – while Burke claimed his second gold and 23-year-old Doull his first.
The British quartet broke the world record twice on the day, initially setting a new best of 3min 50.570sec in the first round before eclipsing it with an even more remarkable performance just over an hour later.
Thomas was part of this team in 2008 and 2012 and Wiggins believes Doull, competing at his first Games, is a chip off the same block.
“What a guy he is, he’s barely 20 and he’s looking totally at home in an Olympic final,” he said.
“Doully reminds me of a young Geraint Thomas and he can do anything in the sport, nothing phases him, this won’t be his first Olympic gold for sure.”