Despite winning the event at the two previous Olympic Games, Jason Kenny was the most surprised man in the velodrome after helping Team GB to team sprint gold at Rio 2016.
Kenny, Philip Hindes, and Callum Skinner clocked a new Olympic record to claim the first track cycling gold medal of the Games in the same night the women's team pursuit squad broke their own world record.
“It was all a bit of a surprise really,” admitted Kenny.
“We’ve been going quite well in training so we had a rough idea of what we could do but we surpassed that in that first ride when we set that Olympic record.
“At that point I thought we could run away with it like London but then New Zealand came back at us and set the benchmark. We just went into the final with nothing to lose.
“The team event is always the best no doubt about it. You get to win it with your mates and I remember that with Chris and Jamie in Beijing and then again in London.
Earlier in the evening, both team pursuits squads enjoyed successfully qualifying rides with the women in particular in blistering form, setting a new world record with their opening effort at Rio 2016.
Laura Trott, Joanna Rowsell Shand, Elinor Barker and Katie Archibald took over 0.4 seconds off their previous best as they came home in 4:13.260. Previous record holders Australia were third fastest with the USA second.
The men also set the fastest qualification time with Steven Burke, Ed Clancy, Owain Doull and Sir Bradley Wiggins finishing in 3:51.943, only 0.3 seconds slower than their London 2012 world record, as they also set the quickest time of the night.
Katherine Grainger made history as she and Vicky Thornley claimed a dramatic silver medal on the Lagoa, just being edged out by Poland in a thrilling finish to the women’s double sculls final.
In a terrific race, neither crew left anything on the water as they gave everything in pursuit of glory but it was Poland who proved stronger in the final 500m to claim gold with the Brits taking a fantastic silver and Lithuania the bronze.
The silver medal was a historic one for Grainger as it takes her Olympic collection to four silvers and a gold, the haul of five Olympic medals equalling the most won by a British woman, matching Kathleen Godfree’s five tennis medals from Antwerp 1920 and Paris 1924.
Grainger is also the first British female to win a medal at five consecutive Games while it was the first Olympic medal for Vicky Thornley having competed as part of the Team GB eight at London 2012.
“There have of course been many, many dark days when I couldn’t see this happening so to be standing in the Rio sunshine with a medal around my neck is amazing,” said Grainger.
Despite the medal triumph, there was some disappointment for Team GB as the quadruple sculls finished fifth in their final while the men’s pair of Alan Sinclair and Stewart Innes fell agonisingly short of a medal as they took fourth place.
John Walton and John Collins were fifth in the men’s double sculls while Chris Bartley, Mark Aldred, Jono Clegg and Peter Chambers won the lightweight men’s four B final.
Elsewhere defending Olympic champions Helen Glover and Heather Stanning stormed into the women's pair final in spectacular fashion with the duo looking like overwhelming favourites for gold.
Despite a heavy defeat in the final to Fiji, Team GB's men’s squad picked up silver as the first rugby medals in 92 years were handed out.
Dan Norton scored GB’s only try of the final as they went down 43-7 to the Pacific Islanders, who won their first ever Olympic medal in the process.
"It's been an amazing journey," said Norton. "If you'd have said 12 weeks ago that we'd have had an opportunity to win a gold medal I think we would have bitten your hand off.
"It's been amazing work by all the boys. We've had great support both here and at home. Hopefully we've inspired a generation who will be sitting at home thinking this would be a good job to have.”
Team GB beat South Africa in the semi-final, with a second-half try from Norton and converted by Tom Mitchell enough to down the Springboks 7-5.
David Florence and Richard Hounslow won Team GB’s 14th medal of the Games, replicating their C2 silver medal winning performance of four years ago at London 2012.
Slovakian cousins Peter and Ladislav Skantar finished just 0.43 seconds ahead of the Brits, who watched on as both the Czech and German pairs failed to beat their time.
Hounslow becomes a double Olympic medallist while Florence wins silver at his third consecutive Games – all a day after Joe Clarke’s stunning gold in the K1
Florence said: “After the disappointment a couple of days ago [in the C1] we wanted to hold together a really solid run and we did that.”
Hounslow added: “We didn’t know if it was a medal or not with still two more boats going. To come away with an Olympic medal is a fantastic achievement and we’re really proud of it
“I’m absolutely delighted and now I’m looking forward to cheering on the rest of Team GB for the rest of the Olympics.”
Justin Rose made golfing history in more ways than one as the sport ended its 112-year Olympic wait at Rio 2016, as he became the first man to hit a hole-in-one.
Rose, who is part of a four-strong Team GB golf outfit, eagled the par three fourth and the last time he pulled off such a feat he was rewarded with a brand new car.
There won’t be the same material prize for Rose at Rio 2016 but he isn’t bothered one bit, admitting carding the first hole-in-one on golf’s Olympic return has its own special reward.
“It was one of those hole-in-ones that I was probably aiming just right of the pin and it was a lovely golf shot, landed on line and went in. There is always an element of luck but you could chalk it up as a good hole-in-one,” he said.
“[His last hole-in-one] I won a car that time but this is definitely better, better bragging rights. When you are the first to do something no one can take that away from you. That was definitely a cool moment.”
And Rose is still very in hunt as he finished round one on -4, four shots behind Australian leader Marcus Fraser while teammate Danny Willett sits level par overnight.
Charlotte Dujardin sits in first place in the individual competition following the completion of the Grand Prix stage with Team GB sitting in silver medal position in the team rankings.
The double Olympic champion from London 2012 scored 85.071% on Valegro to go first, clear ahead of Kristina Broring-Sprehe of Germany in second.
Carl Hester, Britain’s other competitor on day two, recorded a score of 75.529% to sit 15th, but with all four German riders in the top seven, Team GB are behind them in the team standings.
“I was smiling before I even went in there. I can’t help but smile when riding Valegro. I think something and he just does it. I don’t even have to ask,” Dujardin said.
“I felt like he [Valegro] enjoyed it, it was just easy to do [the routine]. I didn’t feel like I had to pull or kick. He’s so lovely to ride. If I can go out and feel happy every time then that’s what it’s all about.”
Olympic debutante Chloe Tutton was a fingertip away from landing a shock medal as she finished an impressive fourth in the 200m breaststroke.
The 20-year-old from Cardiff was swimming in lane one after making the final as seventh fastest qualifier – an achievement in itself for someone who has never competed at a World Championships and only made her European debut in the home comforts of London earlier this year.
But Tutton underlined her position as one of the sport’s most promising talents by storming home in the final 50m to equal her Welsh record and PB in 2:22.34 and touch just 0.06 seconds shy of the China’s Shi Jinglin in third.
“I’m happy with that time but being so close to a medal, you can’t help but be a little bit disappointed,” said Tutton.
“I’ve got many more years to improve so hopefully that’s just experience that I can put under my belt and do a bit better in the future”
Also competing in the first final of her Olympic debut, Tutton’s teammate Molly Renshaw finished two places back in sixth on 2:22.72.
Dan Wallace was the third Brit in final action on the night, finishing eighth in the 200m individual medley in 1:58.54.
In the night’s semi-finals, Ben Proud beat his own British record to qualify fifth fastest for the 50m freestyle final in 21.54 while James Guy was 14th overall in the 100m butterfly semis.
Natalie Powell pinpointed a key moment in her quarter-final clash with Olympic bronze medallist Audrey Tcheumeo as one of the reasons behind unsuccessful medal bid.
After defeat of Sarah Myriam Mazouz of Gabon by ippon, Powell faced Tcheumeo, the bronze medallist from London 2012, in the last eight of the -78kg category.
All was going well until Powell caught the French judoka in the face, forcing her opponent off the dojo to receive treatment and never regaining control after a lengthy delay.
Powell lost by two shidos to Tcheumeo to go into the repechage where she lost to Luise Malzahn of Germany by ippon and she admitted the crucial moment in the last eight cost her.
“I feel like I gave it my all in particular in the first two fights. The French girl [Tcheumeo] was always going to be a really tough fight, she is so explosive, she is the most explosive girl in the weight. Over two minutes there is nobody she is going to lose to,” she said.
“So when the break came [in the contest when Tcheumeo was treated for a facial injury] and it was all over, I basically started again and my tactics went out the window.
“I am really gutted with that. To get myself back up for the bronze fight was just hard. But I will come back. If I had a second fight yes [Powell would beat Malzahn] but I didn’t pull myself together.”
Naomi Folkard will cherish her top eight finish in Rio even if she admits it is perhaps time to start looking for a career outside of competitive archery.
Folkard led an inspired campaign at her fourth Olympic Games, firing herself all the way to the quarter-finals where she met Hyejin Chang of Korea.
She couldn’t advance at the iconic Sambadrome, losing 7-1, but will take pride in her performance as she begins to think of life outside the range.
To finish top eight in the Olympic Games is something I couldn’t have dreamt of a few months ago. I’m not planning on continuing. I’ve been a full-time archer for 11 years and I need a life. I want to get into coaching,” she said.
“I will always be involved in the sport. You never know they might persuade me to come back but I need at least one year out. I’m 32 and I don’t have a pension and really I need to get a job.”
Joshua Buatsi smashed his way into the light-heavyweight quarter finals with a knockout victory over third seed and world silver medallist Elshod Rasulov of Uzbekistan.
In what was undoubtedly the showpiece display of any of the British boxers to date in Rio, the 23-year-old edged a tight opening round before finishing the fight prematurely in the second.
The Brit had already sent his opponent to the canvas once in round two, but a trio of heavy hooks finished the job and set up a quarter final clash with Algerian triple Olympian Abdelhafid Benchabla.
"I wasn’t expecting to knock him out,” said Buatsi. “I was just trying to dominate and dominate. The pressure was getting to him and I thought I should just carry on. I hurt him with a shot and just capitalised on it.
“I was absolutely nervous going into that fight. I don’t know why. I got in the ring and I was proper nervous but I got in there and the ring became smaller to me and I saw no one but him.
“The corner just said box and bit more and the shot hurt him and I got rid of him. I’d seen a couple of videos and knew he’d go on the back foot. I just feel like I need to build on each fight at a time and build on that positivity.”
Light-welterweight Pat McCormack also progressed in his first round bout, claiming a split decision win over Kazakhstan teenager Ablaikhan Zhussupov.
However, welterweight Josh Kelly’s campaign came to an end in the second round as he lost to second seed Daniyar Yeleussinov of Kazakhstan in a unanimous decision.
Andy Murray was happy to grin and bear it on his way to the quarter-finals but would rather the weather gods don’t make him do it again.
It took Murray over two hours to dispatch of Italian Fabio Fognini 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 in the third round as windy conditions put paid to much of a spectacle in Brazil.
Murray gritted his teeth throughout to reach the quarter-finals and is hoping the conditions become easier as he attempts to win a second successive Olympic singles gold.
“The conditions were making it very, very hard but once I got the momentum I went with it and that was it. Sometimes the conditions don’t allow for you to play really well and the conditions didn’t allow that,” he said.
“It was really, really hard out there and difficult to appreciate unless you were actually out there playing. I just tried to keep fighting and he managed to make a few mistakes.”
Murray returned to the court to begin his mixed doubles campaign with Heather Watson and chalked up another with, this time straight sets 6-3, 6-3 over David Ferrer and Carla Suarez Navarro.
Johanna Konta was also in action but suffered two defeats, her singles campaign ending in the quarter-final stage after a 6-1, 6-2 defeat to No.2 seed Angelique Kerber.
Konta then partnered Jamie Murray in the mixed doubles for the first time but the Team GB pair were to fall 6-4, 6-3 to the American duo of Jack Sock and Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
Giles Scott remains on course for the Olympic gold medal at Rio 2016 after a strong recovery from a poor start saw him retain the top spot in the men’s Finn class.
The 29 year old from Huntingdon had a disappointing first race of the day when an uncharacteristic error saw him finish down the field in 11th position but Scott demonstrated why he is the man to beat in the day’s second race as he finished first to retain the gold medal position.
Elsewhere there was a good performance from Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark in the women's 470 as a first placed finish in the day’s first race and a sixth in the second left them third overall.
In the RS: X Men, Nick Dempsey finished fifth and eighth to retain silver medal position in the overall standings while in the men's 470 pairing of Luke Patience and Chris Grube secured finishes of fifth and sixth leave them sixth in the overall standings.
Team GB's women’s team continued their unbeaten start to the Rio 2016 tournament with a 2-0 win over Japan.
They now face a game against the USA to determine who will finish top of pool B, who in turn will face the fourth-place team in pool A.
Lily Owsley opened the scoring within five minutes, with Nicola White adding a second in the fourth quarter with an overhead smash.
“If we can build on our collective performances we’ve had so far in this tournament and do one better against the USA it’ll hopefully take us into the quarter-final in good stead,” said Crista Cullen.
“We’ve got great attacking flair, a dogged defending style which is hard to break down – typically British – and we’ve demonstrated that today.”
Ellie Downie believes she has proven herself to be a future Olympic medallist after placing 13th in the women’s individual all-around final.
Downie recorded the sixth best score on the vault and eighth on the floor but was down the field on the uneven bars and beam in 21st and 16th.
And, while frustrated with her dismount on the beam in particular, Downie, who is just 17, is taking the positives from her maiden Olympic appearance in Rio.
“I had a long wait on beam but didn’t feel nervous, the actual routine was really good but the landing again I needed to focus more,” she said.
“It’s mixed emotions knowing that if I had gone clean I had a chance of a medal, which shows I’m right up there on my day.
“That’s a big positive to take out of these Games looking ahead. It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster experience but I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved and the fact I’ve been able to battle through.”
Rajiv Ouseph and Kirsty Gilmour both recorded victories in their opening singles group matches as the badminton competition got underway at Rio 2016.
Gilmour beat Switzerland’s Sabrina Jaquet 21-17, 21-15 while Ouseph dispatched Petr Koukal of Czech Republic 21-14, 21-18, and the eight-time national champion was pleased get off to a flying start in his second Olympic appearance.
“I’m pleased. I didn’t play my best but it was difficult conditions out there and it was nice to get a victory but there's definitely stuff to improve on for the next match,” said Ouseph.
“It’s not the same as any other hall here and obviously there is a bit more added pressure with it being the Olympics so I think it just takes a little bit more time to get used to that.
Elsewhere, married mixed doubles pairing Chris and Gabby Adcock lost to Xu Chen & Ma Jin of China 21-13, 20-22, 15-21, Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge were downed 9-21, 21-9, 16-21 by Denmark’s Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen, and Heather Olver and Lauren Smith were beaten 21-17 24-22 by Vivian Kah Mun Hoo and Khe Wei Woon of Malaysia.
Jennifer McIntosh struggled with a swirling wind at the Olympic Shooting Centre as she finished in 18th place in qualification for the 50m rifle three positions.
McIntosh scored 194 of a possible 200 in the kneeling position, 195 while prone and 189 standing to finish outside the eight qualification places for the final.
“The wind was difficult. One of the hardest things was just how fast it was changing. A strong wind is not that hard to shoot in, but when it’s changing and flickering like that [it’s tough],” she said.
“On a day like that, when it’s windy, you can’t assume anything and you have to fight for every point. I feel like I did that, so that’s a positive to take away from it."