Distance runner Logan Smith was delighted to exceed his “wildest dreams” after marking his Great Britain debut with gold and bronze medals.
The 28-year-old from Cromer, Norfolk, finished third in the 50km World Championship in New Delhi and was part of a Team GB podium clean sweep.
Smith completed the course in 2 hrs 47 mins and 29 secs despite a 4:00am start time to reduce the level of heat to which the athletes would be subjected.
He chased Alex Milne (2:46.09) and Charlie Davis (2:47.15) home, and it was a similar story in the women’s race with Britons Naomi Robinson and Katrina Ballantyne first and second.
“I came out here hoping to compete well and do myself justice, but coming away with a bronze medal individually and a team gold medal, I am on top of the world,” Smith told BBC Radio Norfolk.
“We packed really well. All the Brits, one to six, it’s absolutely unheard of. As a team, we absolutely crushed it, and if it wasn’t for the two guys ahead of me, I’d be sitting here with the European and British records – but I’m just buzzing with the time.”
The Championship was put back from December because of the poor air quality in New Delhi at that time, but it remained a factor for the athletes.
“The temperatures started off at about 19 degrees, so not too bad really, but it got up to 24, 25 and 80 per cent humidity – and the air pollution was a bit of an issue as well,” said Smith.
“It’s not at that level where it’s unsafe to go ahead, but it’s higher than anywhere else in the world currently, so a lot of factors to take into account.
“I was doing a lot of saunas [before travelling to India] and getting myself prepped heat-wise, and it clearly paid off, the hard work that went into it. I wouldn’t change it for the world.”