The feeling was palpable among Otago rower Hamish Bond's friends and family at a central Dunedin bar last night after his and Eric Murray's gold medal performance.
About 100 people gathered on the bleachers at the Terrace Bar to watch the race, roaring and whistling every time the pair featured, getting louder as their lead increased.
For Bond's uncle, David, the fear they could "catch a crab or break an oar" kept him stoney faced throughout the race.
"It's a sense of relief. They've been the favourites and the pressure has been on to win. I felt it was a race they could lose." Instead, they rowed a "fantastic race".
Words escaped brother Callum. His wife, Stacey Bond, said he never showed emotion. Cousin Alex Bond (19) said there was so much pressure on the pair she was "so glad" they performed well.
"It's just incredible. They put in so much hard work, have been training for four years straight. It's so exciting."
Dunedin North End Rowing Club life member Neil Burrow said it was a "brilliant" row that the pair made look easy.
Club captain Matt Plaisted (19), who has met Bond only once, said the performance cemented what they already knew.
"He inspires the club ... He's shown you can be successful coming from Dunedin."
At home in Twizel, Bond's parents, Shirley and Graeme, were still coming to terms with the win.
"We'll sit down tomorrow and watch it again, then we'll really be able to suck it up."
