IT is a sign of how much Becky James has overcome over the last few years that a silver medal in the women’s keirin was celebrated with family and friends as if it had been gold, writes Pippa Field in Rio.

In front of a sizeable British-dominated crowd on Saturday, James launched herself for the line with only gold medalist Elis Ligtlee of the Netherlands able to hold her off.

The 24-year-old was actually last when the final lap bell sounded but James is not one to give in easily – a trait that has been on full display over the last few years.

And tonight she began her bid for a second medal by setting a new Olympic record in the women’s sprint qualification before easing through the first round. She is back in action tomorrow.

A combination of injuries and illness – most notably a knee problem and a cancer scare – had left her struggling to even get through a full week’s training just 12 months ago.

But the Abergavenny cyclist persevered with the reward being a well-deserved silver medal in Rio.

“It means absolutely everything.

“This has been a really tough time for me the last two years,” said James, who picked up Britain’s fourth medal on the track in Rio.

“Over a year ago I’d just started my full time training and I was barely getting through a full week of training.

“To think where I was a year ago from now to where I am now – I could never have imagined it.

“My form has been pretty good the last few weeks from the holding camp so I was feeling confident but you never know in the keirin.

“My family and George [North] are in the crowd.

“I’ve never been able to celebrate medals with him before.

“It means the world to me, especially having my parents here too.

“They don’t often get to come and my mum has never been on a long haul flight before so it’s incredible that they can all be here and that we can celebrate together.”

Having eased through the heats, James took to the track for the final with the atmosphere already electric following British women’s team pursuit squad’s world-record-setting gold medal performance.

With five other riders battling for space, it was always going to be a manic race but James held her nerve to come through – although so close was the finish was that it wasn’t until official confirmation on the scoreboard that James’ fate was finally discovered. “It was a really frustrating race,” she added.

“When I was at the back we knew that I had to be patient..

“I just didn’t want to go and be on the outside and then shot out the back because around those bends it’s so hard when it’s so fast. I left it as late as I could and I knew that I have got some very good form at the moment.

“I could have done with an extra couple of metres but I am absolutely thrilled with that medal.”

l Elinor Barker’s world record-breaking team pursuit gold medal went down particularly well at St Julian’s Comprehensive in Newport where her dad, Graham, is deputy head teacher.

l Aldi is the first Official Supermarket partner of Team GB and has been championing our nation’s ex-traordinary athletes on their Road to Rio and encouraging the public to tuck into fresh, affordable, Great British food. For more information visit aldi.co.uk