What else is there to say about Emma Finucane?

I wrote beforehand that it is rare that the anticipation for a 21-year-old’s Olympic debut is so great. But the excitement was justified.

Yes, that expectation also brought pressure. Former cycling greats had predicted that she would win three gold medals at just one Games – an unprecedented result.

Reality could always have been much harsher. But it was very close.

Gold and world record in the team sprint, 0.092 seconds behind gold in the keirin, 0.050 seconds behind the chance of gold in the sprint.

These are extremely close margins. Don’t be fooled – one gold and two bronze medals at your first Olympic Games is an unbelievable haul.

And since she is only 21, one can only imagine how much she can improve in the coming years.

But after following her rise in the sport over the past four years, two things stand out to me most.

First, she has an incredibly supportive family.

Mom, dad, brothers and sisters – they all came to the Paris National Velodrome wearing matching T-shirts with Emma’s face on them. They sat 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 that Finucane thanked them in every post-race interview.

The second thing you notice from talking to Emma is how determined she is to enjoy the ride. Yes, as an elite athlete she will be judged on results and medals. But from the moment she was handed Team GB kit, to her first foot in the Olympic velodrome, to her appearance on the podium, she always enjoys the moment and does it with a smile.