Olympic Games 2024: Josh Kerr eyes LA gold in Hollywood ending

“It’s not what I wanted but the silver is something physical to show for the work I’ve put in,” he told BBC Sport Scotland.

“We were pretty close but the mind goes straight to ‘OK, the storyline of bronze, silver, gold over a 12-year span is pretty cool’.

“The competitor in me is thinking straight towards that. But the human inside me thinks I put together the best race I’ve ever run and walked away with an Olympic silver medal, which is pretty cool.”

Were it not for Hocker, Kerr’s time would have been the fastest in Olympic history. He sliced more than a second off his personal best and snatched Mo Farah’s British record over the distance.

Viewed through that prism, the Scot could take satisfaction as he savoured “a couple of pints” with his family post-race, before being up after “about 20 minutes’ sleep” to do the rounds with the media.

“Putting a plan together 12 hours after an Olympic final is difficult, but I know I can get to the top of the sport and I want to do that,” he added.

“I’m world champion so I know I’m good enough but yesterday was not my day. Maybe in four years’ time it will be.

“What I love about sport is knowing there are no guarantees, and I’m so glad I was able to bring back a medal, even if it’s not the colour I want. Now I want to go through the journey again and get what I think I deserve in LA.”