HE may have been back on home soil, but Dungog rower Spencer Turrin was still cheering on his Australian teammates in Tokyo.
Starting a fortnight of hotel quarantine in Sydney, the newly crowned Olympic champion couldn't get enough Games action.
"I'm so stoked I was in the first week so I get a week of Olympic sport to watch," Turrin told the Newcastle Herald on Monday.
And although admitting it's a "shame we can't be there", remains understanding of the current COVID-19 climate and appreciative of the opportunity to compete in Japan amid a global pandemic.
It was a chance that Turrin took with both hands, claiming an Olympic gold medal.
On a personal note, Turrin described a feeling of "redemption" after finishing sixth in the men's pairs final with former teammate Alex Lloyd at Rio five years ago.
"He [Lloyd] is one of my best mates and we were gutted with our performance," Turrin said.
"The trials and tribulations we went through in that Olympic year. We performed well throughout the year and the years across that Olympiad, but had some tough calls and didn't quite perform like we knew we could of.
"A lot of it was redemption for that, both him and I."
From a team perspective in his new boat class, the crew of 2021 were also handed over the mantle of Oarsome Foursome by original leader James Tomkins.
"Jimmy was there and he came up to us after the race and gave us permission to be the Oarsome Foursome," Turrin said.
"He said 'yep, the mantle is yours now, you've reclaimed it for us'. That was pretty cool as well. He's such an icon of the sport and an inspiration for all of us.
"We've watched all of their races over the years, rewatched and learned from what they did.
"We received messages from all the other guys in those crews over the years - Drew [Ginn], Mike McKay and Greeny [Nick Green].
"It's pretty cool to be part of that now and have our names in the history books with them."
In terms of the Aussie rowing squad, Turrin said it was "very special" to be part of "that hour of power" at Sea Forest Waterway on Wednesday with four medals (two gold, two bronze) in consecutive races.
As for Paris and defending the title in 2024, the Hunter product, who turns 30 later this month, remains unsure.
"Never say never. It's only three years now, but I'll take some time and make a decision from there," he said.
