Adam Burgess might use yoga and breathing techniques to keep himself calm, but his face was the opposite as he paddled across the line at Paris 2024.
The two-time Olympian laid down the time of 96.84 seconds in his final run and was forced to watch on as three paddlers came after him.
But only the Frenchman Nicolas Gestin could beat the Brit, who, after finishing fourth in Tokyo and missing out on a medal by 0.16 seconds, was overcome with joy as he crossed the finish line at his second Games.
"Since I was 10 years old, this is was what I was thinking about in the start pool," he said.
"I just wanted to do that kid proud that dreamt of this moment. I just went out there and gave it my all and here we are."
Burgess qualified second fastest during the heats but fell to fourth place during the semi-final to put himself just outside of the medals.
And after his Tokyo disappointment, Burgess admitted that he was trying not to think about history repeating itself as he catapulted himself onto the podium at the second time of asking.
"I was trying not to think about it too much," he added.
"It was a big part of my story to go again and earn that spot in Paris but very much this was it's own story. Races always unfold differently and I didn't want that on my mind. I just wanted to be in the present moment, focus on my job today and yeah I came out on the podium."
Burgess adds to Team GB’s canoe slalom medal haul after Kimberley Woods won bronze in the women's K1 event yesterday and will compete again in the new kayak cross event later in the Games.
Sportsbeat 2024