Not when he had to fundraise trying to crack the international rowing scene a decade ago.

Not when he finished sixth in the men's pairs final in Rio in 2016.

Not when he was training out of his parent's garage during the coronavirus lockdown last year.

Instead, a lifetime of perseverance and dedication have now paid off with one of sport's ultimate rewards.

The boy from Dungog became an Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo on Wednesday after helping create a new chapter in Australia's storied history of the men's fours.

Turrin, Alex Purnell, Jack Hargreaves and Alex Hill won the event for the first time since the original Oarsome Foursome clinched back-to-back titles 25 years ago.

"I still can't believe it, it still hasn't sunk it yet. I don't think it's real yet, but I don't know, it might take a bit of time to sink in," Turrin told reporters in the mixed zone.

The Australians led from start to finish in what was a chaotic final, not only ending Great Britain's streak of five consecutive triumphs and upgrading themselves from three straight silvers but doing so in Olympic record time.

The 2021 champions stopped the clock at five minutes, 42.76 seconds to easily eclipse the previous mark (5:47.06) of their fellow countrymen from nine years ago.

On top of that, it was Australia's second gold medal in as many races with the women's fours also getting the job done around 20 minutes earlier at Sea Forest Waterway.

Throw in a couple of bronze medals as well, both the men's and women's quadruple sculls, and it was quite the Games session for the national rowing squad.

"Just an amazing team to be apart of," Turrin said.

"Just Australia coming together, people from all walks of life in Australia, everyone bonded and worked so well together. And it's just awesome to be a part of that."

When interviewed shortly after the decider by Australia's official Olympic broadcaster, the Seven Network, Turrin spoke last and made two telling insights.

The first was: "Done this, done that, Dungog".

A reference to his home town of Dungog, where he was born and raised.

Turrin eventually moved away to Sydney to attend boarding school at St Joseph's, where he took up rowing, before relocating to his current base in Canberra to further pursue his chosen sport, but a sense of place was clearly on show for the world to see.

The second, reaching back deliberately for the microphone, was: "That one's for you Lloydy brother, love you mate".

It seemed like a direct refence to Alex Lloyd - Turrin's rowing partner on his Olympic debut five years ago.

They may have missed the podium last time around, but Turrin dedicated part of his success in Tokyo to Lloyd.

Standing on top of the dais proved quite the emotional moment for the Aussie quartet - hugs, smiles and arm-in-arm belting out the national anthem together while the flag was raised.

They dominated most of the 2000m course, in front at each of the main markers, but opponents surged over the closing stages.

Main rivals Great Britain fell back and crossed lanes but Romania (silver) and Italy (bronze), who were forced to make a replacement that morning because of a positive COVID test, pushed hard.

"It was tighter than I thought, but yeah, we thought we'd done enough," Purnell said.

"There were a couple more strokes at the end that were dodgy and could've wiped off some speed at the end but the feeling when you looked right and saw '1' and Australia, it all was overwhelming. Just a feeling you can't describe."

Turrin, like cricketer Doug Walters, is now part of Dungog sporting folklore.

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