Their embrace lasted no more than a few seconds. But a tearful boy of 11 innocently encapsulated the buoyant mood of the nation yesterday after witnessing Andy Murray become an Olympic champion. Henry Caplan raced down through the stands at Wimbledon’s Centre Court to hug the tennis star after what turned out to be one of the best days of each of their separate lives. But in that magic moment – captured on giant screens around the court and broadcast to the world – Britain’s feelgood barometer soared after a weekend during which the country, quite simply, went Olympics daft. For Murray, it was the moment he turned a dream to reality and sensationally added an Olympic gold to Britain’s astonishing medal tally. For young Master Caplan, it was the opportunity of a lifetime to share in the glory of one of his top sporting heroes during a peak of national excitement over the Games. One minute, he was sitting with his father in the dizzy heights of row Z. The next, he broke free to sprint down towards Murray and into the players’ box. ‘Give me a hug!’ he cheekily demanded. ‘Anything for my fan,’ said Murray, and readily obliged. Yesterday as he waited for another glimpse of Murray and his other tennis hero, Roger Federer, he told me: ‘I was just so happy. I had to let him know. I’m his biggest fan and I didn’t want to miss my chance.’ His father Elliot, a 41-year-old furniture supplier from Blackmore, Essex, said: ‘I was hugging him at the end of the match because he was overwhelmed and crying with joy. He said “get off me” and slipped out of my arms. ‘Next thing I know, he’s all over the telly screens giving Andy Murray a hug.’ Jumping for joy, punching the air in triumph, Murray ran back on to the grass to celebrate his prize. Four weeks on from the moment he left Centre Court in tears, the 25-year-old champion-in-waiting had returned to take his revenge on arch rival Federer – and to stride spectacularly into the record books. He declared his victory ‘the biggest win of my life’ and added: ‘I’ll never forget this moment.’ Murray won Britain its first gold medal in the men’s singles for more than a century, since the 1908 London Games. Then he topped it up with silver alongside national sweetheart Laura Robson in the mixed doubles. So it wasn’t hard to understand why the famously grumpy Scot managed to raise an ecstatic smile yesterday as he took a well-deserved share in this most glorious weekend in British sport. He even had a stab at mouthing the national anthem – and willingly draped himself in a Union Flag after being presented with his first Olympic gong. His victory was the latest in a succession of triumphs to lift the country’s spirits in a way that few anticipated before the start of the Games. For just under two hours yesterday Murray was swept along on a wave of British support that started with a rousing welcome to Centre Court, possibly twice the decibel level of that raised for his Swiss adversary. Congratulations: Defeated finalist Roger Federer congratulates his opponent, while a young fan wanted a hug from his hero Source: Travelfwd+
