In Britain's near pitchperfect execution to the halfway point of the 2012 London Summer Olympics, the background soundtrack has been provided by the Chariots of Fire theme that accompanies the medal presentations.
Stirring stuff. And certainly enough to keep so many Islanders inside and glued to our TV sets Saturday, one of the most lilting days of the summer.
Among them were friends, family and clubmates of Victoria athletes Ryan Cochrane and Gillian Carleton, who on Saturday respectively won silver and bronze medals in swimming and cycling in the London Games.
The two groups packed into separate Victoria restaurants to root for Cochrane and Carleton.
Up-Island, they were cheering Saturday for Olympic rookie Cameron Levins of Black Creek, who placed a credible 11th in his first Games experience against an absolute killer field in the 10,000-metre track event as Briton Mo Farah's victory lifted a home-nation crowd of 80,000 in the Olympic stadium.
Into this raucous cauldron stepped the 23-year-old from near Courtenay to leave a compelling calling card for the future.
In case you haven't noticed, this is a sporting isle and it shows in London, where an outsized contribution of 48 athletes from or based on the Island is performing.
And well.
So far, the Island medal count in the British capital stands at silvers from Cochrane and the Elk Lake-based men's rowing eight and bronze from track cyclist Carleton, the latter being the best advertisement possible for keeping the Juan de Fuca velodrome open and running.
The "if we were a country" game at any Games is hardly an exact science.
But, of course, who is to stop us from playing it? So, if the Island were a country, it would rank in medal count at the halfway point ahead of Croatia, Switzerland, Belgium, Norway, Serbia, Egypt, Thailand and tied with India, Spain and Sweden.
The Island even beats the birthplace of the Olympics as Greece has two bronze medals halfway through London 2012.
High-level sports success is what happens in a place when running, cycling, rowing, swimming and sailing comes as easily as breathing. Yes, we have the built-in advantage of weather. But so does Greece. It's more than just that. It's a part of our Island culture - 2000 Sydney Olympian and two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash alludes to the many and varied sports he played while growing up in Victoria as being crucial to his success.
Carleton concurs. "My parents [Nancy and David] are triathletes and I was exposed to a complete array of sports when I was growing up," she said from London, with 2012 Olympic cycling medal in hand.
"The Island is a very inspiring place if you are an athlete. The expertise, support and training programs are amazing. If there's a sport you want to do, there will be somebody there to help you."
Cochrane agrees. "There are so many great athletes in Victoria," he says.
There have been Island disappointments for sure in London - Dave Calder, Scott Frandsen, Lindsay Jennerich and Patricia Obee in rowing, Ryder Hesjedal in cycling and a tearful Paula Findlay in triathlon.
They are all honourable and hard-working athletes, but the Summer Games can be abrupt and harsh in outcome.
The vast majority of the 10,400 athletes in London won't get near the podium. That's what makes it the Olympics.
And what makes it worth shuttering yourself in for, even on a glorious summer day.
