Prior to Rio 2016, cyclist Mark Cavendish had never previously finished on the podium at an Olympic Games.
But it proved to be third time lucky as the ‘Manx Missile’ finally got his hands on an Olympic medal on his third appearance, with silver in the omnium.
The 31-year-old held off the charge of Lasse Norman Hansen in a dramatic points race – the last of the six disciplines – to finish on 194 points, two clear of the Dane in bronze, and 13 behind champion Elia Viviani of Italy.
Cavendish is back on the boards in the UK this week alongside Sir Bradley Wiggins for Six Day London but we caught up with Mark to look back on his personal milestone in Rio.
“I did everything I could to prepare for the race and everything I could do in the race," said Cavendish.
"Ultimately I have to be happy and Elia was better across the six disciplines and deserved to win that Olympic gold. It’s always disappointing not to win but I did all I could and the same for the guys behind me.
"I realised I was a marked man from pretty early on so it was difficult. I’m always going to be a marked man and I decided halfway that I couldn’t get a lap so I had to get the sprints.
"I felt incredible. I could see people dying in energy and I felt better and better but I knew at halfway I wouldn’t be able to get a lap.
"I had such great support. As a team, Great Britain rushed the medals. We have got the best bike riders in the world but sometimes what is forgotten is we have the best staff behind us.
"It’s a massive team and one that really wants to win and it’s quite emotional, especially for me. I needed those people in what was just my third ever international omnium.”