What is there left to say about Emma Finucane?
I wrote in the build-up that it was rare for there to be so much anticipation for a 21-year-old’s Olympic debut. But the excitement was justified.
Yes, that expectation brought pressure too. Former cycling greats were tipping her to win an unprecedented three golds in a single Games.
The reality was always going to be much tougher. But she came mighty close.
Gold and a world record in the team sprint, 0.092 seconds off gold in the keirin, 0.050 seconds off a chance of gold in the sprint.
These are enormously fine margins. Make no mistake – a gold and two bronze medals in your first Olympics is a scarcely believable return.
And given her age, you can only imagine how much she can improve in the years to come.
But two things strike me the most having covered her rise in the sport for the last four years.
Firstly, she has an incredibly supportive family behind her.
Mum, dad, brothers and sisters – they turned up to the Paris National Velodrome in matching t-shirts with Emma’s face on them. They were in the stands for every session of every race. No-one cheered louder.
They celebrated every result with the same pride and joy, regardless of the outcome. It was no surprise to hear Finucane thank them in every post-race interview.
The second thing you take away from speaking to Finucane is how determined she is to enjoy the ride. Yes, as an elite athlete she is judged on results and medals. But from when she got the Team GB kit, to when she first set foot in the Olympic velodrome, to standing on the podium, she always savoured the moment and did it with a smile.
