British judo heavyweight Karina Bryant may well be able to get herself behind the wheel of a new car after finally landing an Olympic medal with bronze at ExCeL.
North Arena 2 was again in full voice all day, having roared Greenwich fighter Gemma Gibbons on to silver 24 hours before, which finally ended the host nation's 12-year quest for an Olympic medal.
The 32-year-old - four-time European Champion and five-time world silver medallist - did not disappoint as she battled through to the semi-finals, having put out third-seeded Slovenian Lucija Polavder, the 2008 Olympic bronze medallist, along the way.
While the gold just proved too far out of reach when she was beaten by Japan's Mika Sugimoto, the fourth-seeded 2010 world champion, Bryant picked herself up to tackle Iryna Kindzerska of Ukraine - and delivered when she came from behind to land Olympic success in her fourth Games.
Earlier this year, Bryant tried to set up a website to raise funds for a new car after hers kept breaking down, but the veteran British judoka eventually was helped out by a generous couple.
Now that she is an Olympic medallist at a home Games, Camberley fighter Bryant could well find herself inundated with offers of sponsorship for some new wheels.
"I had my UK lottery funding, but it was still a big struggle for me and I tried my hardest to just to get on with it, but unfortunately the car I had kept on breaking down and costing me more money," Bryant said.
"I had a really old Golf, it was fantastic and it had kept me going for a long, long time.
"Unfortunately it was one of those things where you just keep going: 'Oh mum, can you help me out?'
"My agent thought of the idea. It was the beginning of this year, but we actually got rid of it because it wasn't very successful. Then, I had a lovely couple come forward and help me out - Roger and Heather Owen, now I've got a little Mini, 10 years old.
"I was able to concentrate and focus on getting here and not worry about if I was going to get to training or not."
Bryant had endured Olympic heartache at three previous Games where she failed to make an impact on the tournament, despite being one of the leading medal contenders.
However, it was a different story on Friday as she produced the goods when it mattered against Kindzerska for bronze.
She was soon behind to a waza-ari throw and hold, but dug deep and levelled with a waza-ari score of her own midway through the five-minute bout.
A yuko from the big Ukrainian then edged her 11-10 ahead, but the Briton was not to be denied as she dropped Kindzerska over for another waza-ari to claim victory - sending the North Arena 2 into bedlam once again.
"I stuck with it because I didn't believe I had reached my full potential in the last couple of Games. I felt I had unfinished business," she said.
"I just wanted to go out there and do myself justice.
"This was the one medal I didn't have. It's not the right colour, but it's gold to me because I couldn't have done any more today."
Bryant has been working with British Cycling psychologist Dr Steve Peters to get herself in top mental condition for one of the Olympics' most gruelling events.
"He's helped me fantastically and is an amazing guy," she said.
"I have had a lot of ups and downs, a lot more downs, and he really helped me to control the mental side of it, especially today."
Bryant, who spent a long period out with a neck injury last year, has yet to rule out putting her body through the pain barrier again for another Olympic cycle.
"The Commonwealth Games aren't so far away now, which keeps me thinking I'll carry on," she said.
"After today, I love the experience of it all. I wouldn't rule out Rio."
There was, though, earlier disappointment for Royal Marine Chris Sherrington, who went out to Russia's Alexander Mikhaylin, the eventual silver medallist, on a sudden-death score in the over-100kg.
French judo heavyweight Teddy Riner delivered Olympic gold with victory over Mikhaylin. Bronze medals went to world number two German Andreas Toelzer, a defeated semi-finalist, and third seed Rafael Silva of Brazil, who came through the repechage.
Cuba's Idalys Ortiz, bronze medallist in Beijing, claimed the women's over-78kg title after she was awarded a judges' flag decision over Japan's Mika Sugimoto following a scoreless contest.
Defending Olympic champion Wen Tong of China was beaten in the semi-final by Ortiz, but recovered to win bronze.
