'Superstar' Finucane thriving under the pressure of attempt to make history

NOW comes the tricky part: the keirin. It is, says Emma Finucane, her favourite discipline, one devoid of the aching nerves she feels in the pit of her stomach on the start line for the team and individual sprint.

- Matt Majendie wa

In the former, she already has Olympic gold; in the latter, she is the favourite on the final day of the Games.

The big question mark remains the keirin itself, a race as much about tactical acumen and experience as the pure power and speed that are a prerequisite.

At just 21, she has not yet had time to master the wily arts of an event that was set up in Japan in the wake of the Second World War to boost its economy. And yet, a gold remains a perfectly conceivable outcome.

Already a world champion prior to these Games, British Cycling's hierarchy believes a first Olympic track gold has further unleashed any shackles on their new superstar.

As she said: "Getting a gold on the first night will obviously give us momentum. This will give us a lot of hope and confidence for the rest of the week. I'm really excited to see what we can do"

In her case what she is trying to do is a first: aiming to be the first British woman to win three golds at a single Olympic Games.