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Former outcast Eric Lamaze - twice banned for drug abuse - completed a remarkable journey from the depths of despair to the heights of  Olympic glory when he  grabbed gold in the individual showjumping event at Sha Tin last night.
Canada's Lamaze, riding Hickstead, beat Sweden's Rolf-Goran Bengtsson on Ninja in a tense jump-off  to lift the final gold medal on offer at the Hong Kong equestrian events almost on the stroke of midnight.
'This is so amazing. It is a tremendous feeling to finally have won the gold. It is something I have been waiting for a long time and it has been worthwhile,' an overjoyed Lamaze said.
Although 40, it was Lamaze's first appearance at an Olympics. He was banned twice by Canadian sports officials after testing positive for  cocaine before the 1996 Games in Atlanta and then testing positive for ephedrine before the 2000 Sydney Olympics, for which he was handed a lifetime ban. That was revoked later.
The journey began again and then ended in joy and resounding cheers from  fans who held banners which read 'Lamazing'.
'This is my dream come true finally. I'm on cloud nine,'  said  Lamaze, who was also part of the Canadian team which won the silver medal in the team showjumping on Monday. 'It doesn't get any better than this.'
Both Lamaze and Bengtsson were equal after two  gruelling rounds. Seven others were also tied, one jump penalty behind and they too  went into the jump-off - for the bronze medal. A total of 34 riders began the night in search of Olympic glory.
'I enjoyed every second of riding this course. I tried my best for the gold, but just couldn't manage it,' said the 46-year-old Bengtsson, who faulted at the last of the six fences in the jump-off. He had to settle for silver after Lamaze had a clear round.
American Beezie Madden on Authentic edged out Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum by 0.12 seconds  for the bronze after both had clear rounds in the showdown.
'The main goal coming here was to defend our team gold, which we won in Athens,' Madden said. 'We did that and then I thought: 'I would love to get an individual medal too'. I'm happy that I have achieved that.'
Falling by the wayside  were German pair Ludger Beerbaum and  Michaels-Beerbaum,  and Athens gold medallist Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil.
A dozen riders were weeded out in the first of two rounds last night.  Among them was 61-year-old Canadian Ian Millar, the grand old man of showjumping, and Laura Kraut, part of the US gold medal-winning team.



Ain't that Lamazing! Gold caps Canadian's comeback from ban