Rio Olympics 2016: Sir Bradley Wiggins – making history in his own way

Wiggins will forever be associated with the giddy summer of 2012, when Britain achieved unprecedented sporting success. He was the main act and will always go side-by-side with the merry memories many have of the period.

First was the Tour de France victory, then more glory 10 days’ later as he became the first man to win the Tour and an Olympic gold in the same year. “Wiggomania” took hold.

Wiggins is a star because he is an incredible athlete, the best cyclist these islands have produced, but he does not only entertain when on his bike. There are the quips, the put-downs, the unwillingness to bow to authority. He is his own man.

When seated on a golden throne in front of Hampton Court Palace to collect his Olympic time trial gold, the newly anointed national hero flashed a peace sign to the cameras, a moment in itself.

But the north London boy, clearly uncomfortable in his surroundings, quickly hopped back on his bike, rode past the ticketed VIPs – later calling it a “prawn sandwich fest” – and cycled out of the palace to see his family and the thousands who had gathered on the streets. “The real fans,” he described them as.

He received a message from the Queen after winning the Tour, but joked it was more of a thrill to be congratulated by former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr.

Later that year were the BBC Sports Personality awards – which the seven-time world champion won, beating a short-list like no other. Wiggins, dressed in dark velour, appeared on stage showcasing his extroverted side, jovially calling Sue Barker ‘Susan’, making the audience laugh. It was not staged, he was enjoying himself, just like many of us would had we achieved such success.