Alex Yee secured a silver medal finish for Team GB during the men’s individual triathlon, finishing runner-up to Norway’s Kristian Blumenfelt.
Yee said he was “over the moon” following the race which saw Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt take gold.
The 23-year-old was looking to follow in the footsteps of Alistair Brownlee by making it three successive British victories at the Games but it was Blummenfelt who proved the strongest on the run at Odaiba Marine Park.
Yee said: “It’s a bit bizarre really. I’m just a normal guy from south east London. Dreams really do come true.
“I am just over the moon. I was already deep in the well and dug that little bit in my soul. It wasn’t enough to catch Kristian but it was enough to get silver.”
Briton Jonny Brownlee, who won silver in 2016 and bronze in 2012 and was hoping to complete the set in the absence of his double champion brother Alistair, finished fifth.
Yee, who had legitimate hopes of gold, is the fastest runner in triathlon history and, having stayed in contention during the 1.5 kilometres swim and 40km bike ride, surged to the front on the 10km run.
Norway’s Blummenfelt delivered a devastating late surge to break clear on a sweltering run and take the gold medal in the men’s Olympic triathlon on Monday.
Blummenfelt was part of a huge group of almost 40 that came off the 40km bike leg together but kept driving at the front as it gradually whittled to three before surging clear in the final km to take Norway’s first medal in the sport.
The group of contenders gradually dwindled but it was Blummenfelt who provided the decisive kick to pull clear of Yee and New Zealand’s Hayden Wilder over the final kilometre.
Yee continued Britain’s impressive run in the event, as his silver made Britain the most successful nation in the history of the event, which joined the Olympic programme in 2000.
The race began with an unprecedented and embarrassing false start as a media boat sailed in front of the pontoon blocking the route to the water of around a third of the 56-man field.
Jetski riders frantically hauled a dozen swimmers back after they pounded out around 200 metres, oblivious to the alarm horns and whistles.
