Like Barker, 27-year-old Carlin is now a four-time Olympic medallist however his lengthy anticipate gold – at this or any main competitors – continues.
In an period of Dutch sprinting dominance, he was all the time going through the largest of asks to face on the upper steps of the rostrum, notably after his ankle break on the Monitor Nations Cup in Canada earlier this 12 months.
Within the semi-finals, the sensational Lavreysen – a five-time world champion and now double Olympic gold medallist within the particular person dash – proved an excessive amount of, however in opposition to Hoogland he stood extra of an opportunity.
They break up the opening two heats of the best-of-three match dash, forcing a decider in entrance of the large numbers of British and Dutch followers contained in the velodrome.
That was when the drama began.
Carlin – who was already carrying a warning from his quarter-final in opposition to Japan’s Kaiya Ota on Thursday – out of the blue veered up the monitor, inflicting a collision with Hoogland.
The race was stopped, Carlin instantaneously elevating his hand in apology earlier than holding his head in disbelief, fearing he could be disqualified.
“We’re utilizing two totally different tyres, the entrance is a little more slippy, and as I turned, I turned too aggressively for it, slipped a bit of bit and I leaned into him,” Carlin instructed BBC Sport.
“I might left it within the arms of the [commissaires].”
He took his time to regain his composure earlier than the restart, and after successful his second successive bronze within the occasion, having received the identical color in Tokyo, he forged an emotional determine on the rostrum.
“It has been a troublesome couple of months after what occurred in Canada, and I feel the final three months have been in all probability the toughest of my profession, attempting to get again to well being,” Carlin mentioned.
“With out British Biking’s help, I do not assume I might have been on the road right this moment, or at this Video games. They mended me again collectively and obtained me to a spot the place I am medal aggressive, and I can solely be pleased about that.”
On his closing race in opposition to Hoogland, he added: “It was the quickest dash I’ve performed in the entire competitions, I gave it completely every part and I’m so pleased with myself.”
Elsewhere in Friday’s motion, Emma Finucane and Sophie Capewell – who have been topped workforce dash Olympic champions alongside Katy Marchant on Monday – progressed to the 1/8 finals within the particular person dash.
That occasion continues on Saturday, when Carlin is again on the monitor within the males’s keirin alongside team-mate Hamish Turnbull, whereas Ethan Hayter and Ollie Wooden contest the lads’s madison.
