He won by the smallest of margins, but judo heavyweight Teddy Riner became one of the giants by winning a second straight 100kg gold medal in Rio but it has been like climbing a mountain.
Riner, 27, is one of the most popular people in France, according to polls, and is unbeaten on the judo mat since 2010.
But he had to battle injuries, his weight and find a new desire to win to get from a gold at London in 2012 to a new title in Rio.
“I am proud and happy, because I did not give up in the final, I did not give up in the preparation and I did not give up on the Olympics, despite the injuries, all the doubts and the way I have felt,” he said after collecting the latest in a glorious line of titles.
The 2.04 metre (6ft 8in) colossus secured gold by beating Japanese rival Hisayoshi Harasawa.
Riner only gave away one penalty, Harasawa two for defensive posture and false attack. There were none of the decisive ippon throws for thrill-seekers.
But the win capped a great day for French judo as Emilie Andeol also claimed gold in the women’s 78kg category.

Tokyo doubts  
Riner said he had a feeling at the start of the day that he would meet Israeli Or Sasson in the semi-final and 24-year-old Harasawa in the gold medal clash.
“I knew these were going to be tough bouts. These two fighters were strong. Today they showed it, these are very big adversaries and in the future I will have to watch for them.”
Riner has not been beaten since 2010 and that was a referees decision. He has not lost by a throw for nine years.
But he senses that invincibility is diminishing. Despite his defeat, Harasawa said: “I don’t think he (Riner) is unbeatable, I will continue to challenge him when I get a chance. Each tournament is hard, despite the prizes I have won,” said Riner.
“People sometimes say there are no rivals, but now they can say there are rivals.
“It’s not always a party, not all the time ippons in all directions. The others are as hungry as I am and they are looking for ways to to the throw. It is getting harder to find the solution.”
Riner said it would be nice to go on to Tokyo 2020 and compete in judo’s homeland. But now holidays take priority.
As after London, the big man has to rediscover his will to win and how to control his hunger.
In the weeks after his London triumph, Riner’s weight ballooned to 165 kilos (363 pounds) as he indulged in his favourite food. The kilos kill the speed and mobility that is a mark of his combat.
He brought it down to 139 kilos (306 pounds) for Rio. But Riner also had an operation on a shoulder and other injuries that caused doubts.
Despite having eight world titles, and two Olympic golds and a bronze (from Beijing 2008), getting up to go to the office has not always been easy.
“Its exhausting always being the last fighter,” he said of his mood stressing how much he believes he deserves his gold medal holiday. Sasson and Rafael Silva of Brazil bounced back from defeats to Riner to claim bronze medals.
With the judo finished, Japan topped the medals table overall with three golds, one silver and eight bronzes.