World champion cyclist Ellesse Andrews proved her pedigree this morning as she stormed home to win gold for New Zealand in the women's keirin.
Andrews flew around the velodrome in the quarters and semis and didn't show any signs of fatigue in the final just after 5am NZ time.
Andrews led off early in the final before holding off a fast finishing Hetty van de Wouw of the Netherlands.
Emma Finucane of Great Britain charged home for the bronze medal.
Speaking after the race to Sky Sports, Andrews said she was puffed.
"It's surreal. I do take a while to let things soak in. I'm very sore, very hot and very puffed.
"I like to not get too overwhelmed or over-worked before the race. I was thinking about the simple things and for me it was just another round of keirin.
"I just needed to qualify first this time and I managed to cross the line first."
Earlier, Andrews just managed to avoid a big crash in her quarterfinal heat as riders behind her sprawled onto the track after crossing the finish line.
Fellow Kiwi Rebecca Petch made it into the keirin semifinal but eventually ended the event in 12th place.
Andrews' gold medal means this is the Kiwi cyclists' most successful Olympics ever on the track with two silvers and one gold for the women's team.
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