ON a steamy night in northern Paris there were tears, plenty of them, but barely a bead of sweat.
Keely Hodgkinson did not just live up to her billing as a gold medal certainty, she did so with a generational performance.
That pre-race billing brought a load of pressure, with everyone expecting her coronation.
The weight of a nation's sporting hopes were, for just under two minutes, on Hodgkinson's shoulders, and she knew the rest of the field would have to conspire to stop her, rough her up or get her out of her rhythm.
But nothing can put this remarkable super-confident athlete off her most regal of strides.
She went to the front with just over 500m left, and dictated matters until crossing the line in 1min 56.72secs, comfortably ahead of Ethiopia's Tsige Duguma and Kenya's Mary Moraa. In fact, she dictated matters from the off.
As she pulled away in the home straight, Hodgkinson even had time to look up at the giant screen to see her epic finish in all its cinematic glory.
Esta historia es de la edición August 06, 2024 de Daily Express.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición August 06, 2024 de Daily Express.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Kane you see the likeness?
IS statue, Harry? Council chiefs have created this barely recognisable statue of England captain Harry Kane.
'DISGUSTING!' WINTER FUEL CUT FURY AS BILLS RISE
PENSIONERS have hit out at \"disgusting\" cuts to winter fuel payments amid warnings typical bills are set to rise to £145 a month.
Putin Warns Biden Risks Nato At War With Russia
PRESIDENT Joe Biden has authorised Ukrainian forces to use US missiles to strike targets deep inside Russia, Washington officials claim.
Raducanu and Boulter put Brits close to final say
EMMA RADUCANU and Katie Boulter blew away defending champions Canada to help Great Britain reach the Billie Jean King Cup semi-finals.
RATTLED GATLAND FEARS THE WORST
Wales job is on line after a record 11th straight defeat
Robbie and Pamela's all white night out
EVERYTHING was all white on the night for Robbie Williams and Pamela Anderson as they hit the red carpet in LA.
Rape suspects' plea plot to avoid justice
Delaying tactic means more victims pull out, says CPS head
Ruth heads Down Under... but for a TV spin-off show
PRESENTER Ruth Langsford is jetting Down Under following her marriage break-up from Eamonn Holmes to front a spin-off of I'm A Celebrity.
'I canoe it!'...canny Coleen hits jackpot
COLEEN Rooney battled it out in a canoe task in the first episode of I'm A Celebrity while some of her campmates had to tuck into a horrific drink.
PM rebukes Streeting for repeated opposition to assisted dying
SIR Keir Starmer has criticised Health Secretary Wes Streeting for his public interventions against the legalisation of assisted dying in England and Wales.
