Neither injury nor a health scare could prevent double World champion Becky James from climbing the medal rostrum on her Olympic debut in Rio.
James looked to have staked her claim to the global throne of women’s sprinting when she won individual sprint and keirin titles at the 2013 Track World Championships in Minsk.
But a mysterious knee injury, that took physios and doctors years to properly diagnose, meant time off the bike, and out of competition.
Throw shoulder surgery into the mix and treatment for a cervical cancer scare in 2014, and James could have been forgiven for giving up on the sport she loves.
James is a fighter, though, and she battled her way back to be in peak condition for Rio.
She won her first ever Olympic race with victory in heat three of the women’s keirin, before going on to qualify for the final with a second place in round two – behind 11-time Australian World Champion Anna Meares.
James got the better of Meares in the final, but succumbed to Dutchwoman Elis Ligtlee as she took home the silver medal – much to her amazement.
Here we relive that magical moment and hear James’ immediate reaction to triumphing over adversity.
"I am lost for words - I don't think I have ever been lost for words,
“I can't even believe that happened. I am over the moon. I feel like I am in really good form and it is what I needed. I love the keirin and I love the racing.
“Through the first round I thought ‘I am just going to enjoy the whole day of racing’ and after the back straight I kept thinking ‘when do I go?’
“I had so much speed in that last half, I don't know where it came from. I just went for that medal.
"It was so special to see my friends and family in the crowd, too, I have got ten of them here.
“They have never been on a long-haul flight and my mum and dad have never watched a race together aside from the worlds this year.
“It is incredible, and having George [North, boyfriend] here and my little sisters and my auntie.
“I have had so much support from British Cycling. It has been a tough 18 months, two years, and I could not do it without their help. "It is a medal we have all won together."
Sportsbeat 2016