IT was hats off to Jason Kenny as Bolton’s cycling hero notched up his fourth Olympic gold as part of the men’s team sprint in Rio.

Alongside teammates Philip Hindes and Callum Skinner, the 28-year-old former Mount St Joseph school pupil set a new Olympic record of 42.440 seconds, beating reigning world champions New Zealand by 0.102 seconds at the velodrome.

Proud parents Michael and Lorraine literally doffed a cap to their son - placing Lorraine's hat on Jason's head as the Farnworth Flyer enjoyed a tearful embrace trackside.

Michael said: “I was really nervous before the event and then afterwards I was just so happy for Jason. He’s worked so hard with the team.

“We’ve had loads of messages from family and friends. It’s great to know that they’re all watching. We’ve even had messages from friends on holiday who have watched him while they’re away.

“After they won, Jason came over to hug his mum and I was messing about with her hat. We couldn’t really hear what one another was saying because the cheering was so loud.

“We had a couple of beers back at the apartment when we got back.

“I’m sort of relieved now that he’s got one medal and I can relax a bit and not get too wound up about the other races.”

Michael, 54, a structural engineer with Watson’s Steel in Lostock, raised Jason and older brother, Craig, in Farnworth with wife, Lorraine, 52, who works as a primary school teacher in Wigan.

Among the most thrilled with his performance was their future daughter-in-law: Jason’s fiancé and fellow Olympic champion, Laura Trott, who excitedly tweeted that the sprint trio were her ‘absolute heroes’.

Michael added that he was especially pleased with how his son made up and gained time on New Zealand after the first lap – setting up third man Callum Skinner for the final leg.

“It showed Jason’s got the speed at the moment. He is the link between the first and third rider. It’s such a difficult job and he did it so well,” he said.

Jason himself expressed disbelief after a redemptive ride for the British trio, who finished sixth in the Track World Championships in London only five months ago.

He said: "It's bizarre. We get a chance to win the worlds every single year and we get a chance to win the Olympics every four.

"We can't win a bloody worlds to save our lives, but we can win the Olympics every time!

"We went into the final with nothing to lose. We were the second qualifiers, left it all on the track and unbelievably it was enough."

Britain's men's team have now claimed top honours at the 2008, 2012 and now 2016 Olympics.

Jason is now on course to match Sir Chris Hoy’s feat of winning three Olympic golds in one Games.

That in turn would see Jason, 12 years Hoy’s junior, take his tally to six gold medals and one silver – the same as Hoy's total medal haul.

He added: "It's great to win four. Maybe I can win a few more during these Games.

“The Olympics are the biggest race, and it's great if you can win.

“The past four years haven't been easy. We believed in ourselves. We struggled in a few other races, but we finally got it right when it mattered.”

Teammate Philip Hindes spoke for all Boltonians – and Britons – when adding: "If he wins another two gold medals; he should get a knighthood."