Matt Glaetzer has been left shattered by a judges' call which has deprived Australia's top track sprinter of one of the proudest medals of his career.
Just 24 hours after a terrible crash at the Lee Valley velodrome which required medics to cut open his elbow to remove wood splinters, the battered Glaetzer was euphoric at winning a bruising bronze medal decider with Scotland's Jack Carlin on Sunday evening.
But within 15 minutes, his joyous face turned to thunder when the race commissaires announced they were relegating him, ruling he'd challenged the Scot unfairly in the denouement to their side-by-side duel.
"You never can perform the same after a crash as bad as that. I had to dig so deep today and I'm shattered because I just gave it everything to try to get a result - and that's why this bronze feels so big for me," the exultant 29-year-old had said earlier, when still thinking he'd be on the podium.
"A crash like that takes a toll on your immune system, and your overall energy, your sleep and recovery. But you've got to suck it up. Whatever I had today, I was going to give everything.
"This is the one event at the Games I haven't won a medal in - and I finally did it, I finally cracked it - and I'm just so happy!
"I had my elbow cut open to get splinter out and the right side of my body is just burnt. Yeah, I'm really proud of this one - I was doubting if it was possible but this medal is big, I'm super proud."
Even as he spoke, though, the commissaires were in deep conversation, poring over the race replay.
"I was coming round the outside and he (Carlin) rode into me - I've no concerns," he said, when asked if he feared he might be relegated.
Australian officials made their protests, but to no avail.
"I'm just feeling for Matt - he's shown incredible resilience and has raced with just a lot of heart and pride and he certainly was deserving of the win," team performance boss Jesse Korf said.
Glaetzer's teammate Matt Richardson, who won gold, added: "Because of the crash, he had to patch himself up, come out and put his heart on the line. I do really feel bad for Matty."
