Surprises are best at the Olympics - especially when they are gift-wrapped in gold.In the space of just 90 minutes, Joe Clarke, Chris Mears and Jack Laugher defied expectations to take K1 canoe slalom and diving’s 3m synchronised titles.
All such moments are emotional of course but for 23-year old Mears it was extra poignant, after live-saving surgery - he was given just a five per cent chance of survival - to remove a spleen ruptured while diving in 2009.
"I still can't really believe that it's happened," Mears said. "I've come from death's door to here. I'm pretty proud.
"When I went into London and competed really well there, that was really emotional for me, because of what had happened to me.
"London changed me as a person. I became a bit more mature."
"I can't imagine what it would be like to get an individual gold but to do it with my mate is incredible. We're such a close team, it's fantastic to share that moment."
Proving that British diving is about more than just Tom Daley, Laugher could add another medal to his collection in the 3m springboard later in the Games.
And Laugher hopes the weather - British summertime arrived in Rio yesterday with leaden skies, a chilly wind and drizzle - is here to stay.
"We took on the English weather, with the wind and the rain, we embraced it and we've come out with the medal, so we're really happy.
“I’m not ready to think yet that I might get another one, that's ridiculous. Just to come away with one doesn't seem real and I haven't got my head around it yet."On Clarke’s bedroom wall at home is a signed photograph from Sir Steve Redgrave on which it says ‘no stone unturned’.
Well Clarke has certainly taken that message to heart – and the hard work paid off in quite some style after the 23-year-old stormed to Olympic gold in the Canoe Slalom K1 on Wednesday.
The Stone paddler has now joined his hero Redgrave in sporting immortality with his historic achievement and what a day it was for the youngster.
He had looked in ominous form working through the heats earlier in the week and the semi-finals this afternoon to qualify third fastest for the final.
A shot at the podium was on the cards for Clarke – who won a World Cup silver in 2014 but whose best career achievements have more often than not come in team events.
But he saved his best for last and his storming solo run of 88.53seconds proved enough to grab gold – Team GB’s second of the Games.
“I put it all out there and that was enough for the gold medal – it’s absolutely fantastic – a dream come true,” he said.
“I was joking with a friend – it will be so good to hear the national anthem for GB – but that was only joking – you can’t take anything for granted in this sport and now it has happened!
“The whole gameplan today was to go through the rounds and I did that – and then I went out in that final run and put it all on the line.
“Joe Clarke – Olympic champion – that was what I went to bed last night dreaming about. I have dreamed about it for so many years.
“I woke up this morning thinking this was my chance – and it has all come together on the right day.”Elsewhere, all that glittered was bronze as Max Whitlock made the podium in the gymnastics all-around and Steve Scott beat team-mate Tim Kneale to take third in the shooting’s double trap.
And while Chris Froome took bronze for the second consecutive Games in the time trial, there was joy for judo’s Sally Conway, as she erased her unhappy memories of 2012.
Memories can be very selective. When you think back to that storied summer four years ago, it’s like everything Team GB touched turned to gold.
But for every life-changing tale, you meet five athletes or more who say the same thing - that while the rest of the country partied, they felt like grumpy intruders on the national celebration.
She would meet family and friends for weeks afterwards and just burst into uncontrollable tears, it was almost like the three stages of grief - denial, anger and ultimately acceptance that her chance might come again.
And so it did.
“I told myself to believe in myself and that I deserve to be fighting against the best for an Olympic medal,” she said.
“Believe is a key word for me. You have to believe in yourself, which why I got the tattoo. When things are tough it’s good to have a little reminder when I look down.
“London was just a huge disappointment for me but this has made everything worth it, every moment.
“At the start of the day I was really nervous but once I started winning then my confidence grew and grew and I just started to enjoy it.”
Sportsbeat 2016