Dan Rivers admitted he came in under the radar to secure a Commonwealth Games gold medal.
But the 23-year-old rifle shooter, from Didcot, had been quietly confident of his chances.
England’s Rivers had been 100-1 to win the 10m air rifle event at Glasgow 2014, where he took bronze.
And the Wantage Target Shooting Club member was still 66-1 for the 50m three positions contest where he struck gold.
“The odds were because the bookies had gone on world rankings,” said Rivers.
“This year I didn’t compete in the World Cups, so that I could focus my time on the Commonwealth Games.
“I came in as an outsider, but I knew my performances were coming up.”
Rivers grew in confidence after his bronze medal and then won gold five days later with a dominant display.
“I said before that the air rifle was my weakest event, so to get a medal in that was mental,” said Rivers.
“But it showed me that I was capable of doing it in the other disciplines.
“I think I was still feeling a bit high when it came to the prone competition and I didn’t do as well.
“But when it came to the three positions, I really felt comfortable.”
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