Athletes from Latvia first participated in the Olympics in 1924, but they competed for the Soviet Union from 1952-88, after it was forcibly annexed by Moscow. When the Soviet Union finally crumbled, Latvia made its return as an independent nation at the 1992 Barcelona Games.

2012 Olympic BMX finals, London, UK

Maris Strombergs and Mariana Pajon win Olympic BMX gold in London. Check the photos. Gallery

It wasn't until Igors Vihrovs won the floor exercise in gymnastics in 2000 that Latvia had its first Olympic gold medal, and it wasn't until Strombergs stood on the podium four years ago in China that a nation with a population of just over 2 million had its second.

Now, fans back in Latvia are celebrating a third.

"Latvia is a small country -- it's not big," Strombergs said. "When I go home, they recognize me, but you know, I don't really focus on it. My main focus is BMX, and just doing my thing."

Doing it better than just anybody else.

Strombergs wasn't considered among the favorites coming into the Olympics, despite a resume that includes two world championships and numerous World Cup victories.

He's struggled with injuries the past couple years, and a particularly hard crash in November 2010 left him with a broken hand, dislocated wrist and damaged shoulder. He required two rounds of surgery and couldn't compete for about six months.

"Coming back from my injury, I wasn't focusing on the Olympics," Strombergs said. "It was all about myself, getting my confidence back, getting right physically, back to where I was before.

"The Olympics at that time was far away," he said, "but it was in the back of my mind."

Strombergs won a World Cup race in the Netherlands this year to gain confidence, but he wasn't dominant in London. He only managed a second and a fifth before winning his final quarterfinal heat, then squeezed through his semifinal as the third of four qualifiers.

When I go home to Latvia, they recognize me, but you know, I don't really focus on it. My main focus is BMX, and just doing my thing.

--Maris Strombergs

Perhaps he was saving his energy for when it mattered.

Strombergs was first down the starting ramp in the final, carrying plenty of speed through the first two jumps and getting ahead of traffic entering the difficult first corner.

Willoughby slid in behind Strombergs and Liam Phillips of Britain was third, but Phillips wiped out as he was being passed by Oquendo, knocking him out of contention.

The three leaders navigated the rhythm section heading into the final corner, and the bump at the start of the final straight that felled several riders during the competition caused no problem.

Strombergs raised his arms in triumph as he crossed the finish line first, followed closely by Willoughby and Oquendo to round out the podium.

"For the four years, it hasn't bothered me and yesterday it all got to me and I was a wreck," Willoughby said. "I pulled it together today, which I was really proud of myself, although I didn't ride as good as I think I could've. To come away second with a silver medal, I'm stoked."

Dutch teammates Raymon van der Biezen and Twan van Gendt finished fifth and sixth, followed by Colombian rider Andres Eduardo Jimenez Caicedo, Connor Fields of the U.S. and Phillips in last.

"Ten weeks ago I was having surgery on my shoulder, broken collarbone, broken shoulder blade, ribs. I have sort of defied all expectations really just to be here," Phillips said. "I'm pleased, although obviously at the moment I am disappointed."

Joris Daudet, the reigning world silver medalist and former world champion, missed the final when he crashed in his last semifinal race. Daudet lay for a moment on the asphalt before getting back on his bike and pedaling across the finish.

It was Daudet who called crashes part of the "beauty" of BMX after the quarterfinals.

"Perhaps, I didn't have luck. Perhaps, it's my fault as well," he said. "I came here for a medal. Even reaching only the final would have been disappointing. I don't know what to say."