Kellie Harrington the heroine: This performance will stand as a testament to her career

The turnaround was astonishing. Harrington looked in danger of being swamped after a minute-and-a-half but it was almost impossible to see her lose with 90 seconds left. The six minutes in between had been bent to her will, her talent and her coaches’ plans.

Kellie Harrington celebrates winning the gold with Coach Zaur Antia and Coach John Conlan

All morning the rain came down in Tokyo.

It collected in pools on the streets, sent people scurrying to subway entrances and under bridges. Some of the Irish here chose to see it as, if not a gift from the gods, then a nod of the head that this would be their day.