KEY POINTS:
If Mahe Drysdale had won a gold medal in the single sculls final, chances are he'd want to watch a replay as he had no memory of the agonising last 200m.
The three-time world champion, who had been on an intravenous drip during the week and entered Saturday night's final with obvious fitness worries, crossed the finish line and collapsed, utterly exhausted after a brave and determined fight for bronze.
Watching from a Shunyi stand was his mum, Robin Owens, who yelled herself hoarse as her son ground out the final stages of the race.
Mrs Owens said her son's memories of the race were hazy but with a few hundred metres to go "he thought he had it".
"Then he hit the wall ... after that he couldn't remember anything. You don't realise there's a big step up from the world championships to the Olympics ... you realise why the Olympics is the pinnacle of all sport."
She said Drysdale, who was vomiting and had to be treated by paramedics after the race, was possibly in worse shape entering the final than he was in the semifinal.
"He was much, much sicker afterwards this time, even though he was on a drip you need a couple of days to get your condition back and he had lost weight.
"But he's so astonishing, he's got this incredible ability to make himself do these astounding things ... I was just really relieved that he crossed the line and thrilled he got a medal."
Mrs Owens' maternal instincts kicked in when paramedics raced to tend Drysdale. She had "a few concerns" but remained calm.
"I think the most amazing thing was he got up and walked out to the ceremony ... I was just so excited I was jumping out of my skin.
"He got his medal and then he walked up and he gave me his flowers ... it was really lovely and moving - he was a bit out of it and his eyes were going all over the place."
In a Parnell, Auckland bar, Sam Bridgewater was cheering on older brother George and Nathan Twaddle in the rowing pairs final.
The 23-year-old student told the Herald he was "incredibly proud" of his brother's bronze medal.
"I'm proud of my brother and the other rowers, they left it all out there and they were really up against it.
"It was one of the most competitive fields and they really did show they were right up there, mate I couldn't be more proud."
He spoke to George not long after the pair placed third behind the Australians and Canadians. "He was pretty good, mate, you know and was probably off to a party for the rowers."
While the third placing "could have stirred something" to fuel George's rowing ambitions, his immediate plans are to begin an MBA at Oxford University starting next month.
In the meantime, Sam Bridgewater said the reality of George's achievement possibly had not hit home yet.
"New Zealand had a great run last night, we punch well above our weight," he said.
"I think it will be a day that New Zealand remembers and for him to be a part of it was pretty amazing ... even if it hasn't sunk in I think it will - he's got his whole life to think about it."
Hayden Roulston's dad Brian was celebrating his son's 4000m individual pursuit silver medal into the small hours yesterday.
"I didn't get to sleep until 3.30am - it was a damn good night."
A reunion in Ashburton for 60-odd members of the Roulston clan was "buzzing" with the effort, he said.
"Hayden sets very high expectations of himself. I knew he was confident he was going to get the time - he said he was going there for gold, it wasn't to be, he got a silver, but we're just really proud of him."
His son's achievement - Roulston was warned two years ago to give up cycling because of a serious heart problem, and has had discipline issues - was still sinking in.
"I was more emotional watching the replay. He talked about his chequered history and everything like that. But Hayden has grown up a hell of a lot over the last couple of years. He's matured into a top athlete."
All going well in the teams event there was still a chance that Hayden could bring home a gold medal.
Hayden's grandfather, 74-year-old Brian senior, said his phone had been ringing off the hook. The late nights and qualifying rounds were hard work but he was able to relax and enjoy finals night.
- Additional reporting: Yvonne Tahana, Alanah May Eriksen
