After the heartbreak of Tokyo, Rhys McClenaghan is an Olympic champion.
The County Down native went into the 2020 (sorry, 2021) Olympics as one of the medal favourites but an agonising final saw a crucial mistake leave him in seventh place.
There was no such disappointment in Paris on Saturday afternoon.
A stellar routine saw McClenaghan awarded a score of 15.533 - the highest tally of his entire career. It was a score which would not be beaten by any of the other seven contenders, and McClenaghan would claim Ireland's third medal of the Olympics.
The Irishman was in tears on the podium on a hugely emotional afternoon in the Bercy Arena and the tears spread into the Irish contingent in the grandstands.
Among the crowds were his mother Tracy and father Danny, and Tracy was emotional recounting the "lifetime" of work which had gone into securing the Olympic gold.
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Rhys McClenaghan's parents share their pride after Olympic gold
It was a tough watch for Rhys McClenaghan's mam Tracy, who said, "Every time he looked emotional and the camera went on him, it just made me emotional! I know how much it means to him and the work and effort that has gone into it."
'I knew this day would come... It's been a lifetime of dedication..." 🥇
Rhys McClenaghan's parents Tracy and Danny speak to #RTESport after their son's incredible gold medal at #Paris2024
📺 Watch https://t.co/b2OI4OoWVJ
📱Updates https://t.co/7oDcUYslbX pic.twitter.com/DgEcwn63Co— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 3, 2024
She was teary-eyed speaking to RTÉ immediately after her son was handed an Olympic gold medal, saying that she was immensely proud of his "nerves of steel" in bouncing back from the disappointment of Tokyo.
We're just over the moon for him. So much hard work has gone into this.
People often say 'it's four years of hard work to get to an Olympics' but Rhys has been working for this day since he was eight. It's been a lifetime's dedication and sacrifice from him just to get to this one moment.
We couldn't be happier for him, really.
He has nerves of steel. I was very nervous this morning but I just thought, 'if Rhys can hold his nerve and go into an arena like that and do a routine like that, we have to stay calm and try and enjoy it as best we can!'
It was just amazing, it couldn't have been a better final. I'll enjoy watching it back because I'm not even sure I watched some of...I still haven't watched the Tokyo one. I will watch this one back!
We imagine there will be plenty of Irish fans joining her in rewatching Saturday's routine over and over again.
McClenaghan's father Danny said that he was not surprised to see his son standing atop the podium.
It's amazing. I can't believe it. I can't believe he's done it. And, at the same time, I think, 'Of course he's an Olympic gold medallist! Of course he is!' Because that's the way he is, it's fantastic.
A wonderful day in Paris for Team Ireland and for Rhys McClenaghan.
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