New Zealand have won their first gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with Kerri Gowler and Grace Prendergast saluting in the women’s rowing pair on Thursday.
The duo came into the race as the hot favourites after recording the world’s best time in their semi-final race.
While they entered the race as the likely winner, the Kiwis had to hold off the fast finishing Russian Olympic Committee pair who were ecstatic to claim silver honours.
“I'm just so stoked, it's been such a good season,” Prendergast told Sky TV.
“Regardless of the result today, I was stoked with how our season went, but it's always a cherry on the top when you finish on top.”
Gowler added: “We crossed and I was like, 'was someone ahead of us? I don't know, I was so focused on us.
“I was like 'did we do it?' Honestly, I can't believe it.”
The win takes New Zealand’s medal tally to one gold, two silvers and one bronze at these Olympics.