It was the news that Bruce Tasker had convinced himself he would never receive.

Many had speculated, others had been vociferous, but in his mind the 30-year-old had closed that particular chapter and moved on. In his own words, he had conditioned himself not to think about it.

But on Wednesday, as he causally checked his phone upon leaving his local barbers, came a moment I dare he say he’ll never forget.

It was official, the two Russian crews that finished in front of Tasker, pilot John Jackson, Joel Fearon and Stuart Benson in the four man bobsleigh at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, had been disqualified. Therefore, the previously creditable fifth placed finish achieved by the GB team is set to be upgraded to the bronze medal position of third.

“I was amazed – I’d never let myself believe this was going to happen,” the former Greenhill School pupil told Telegraph Sport.

“I just ran home, burst into the house and hugged my girlfriend. It was hard to describe the feeling.”

Of course, in the eyes of many, this scenario has been inevitable ever since the first part of the now infamous McLaren report was published in July 2016, a 97-page document that presented insurmountable evidence linking Russian athletes, in a range of sports, to state-sponsored doping.

But it was only two weeks ago when the gold medal winning quartet, led by Alexander Zubkov, were stripped of their title, now followed by the second Russian crew, headed by Alexander Kasjanov, also being belatedly disqualified.

“The McLaren report put most people beyond any doubt as to what had gone on,” continued Tasker.

“But the report itself didn’t have the power to influence disqualifications. So as a protective mechanism almost I told myself a medal was never going to happen.”

However, Tasker admitted that once news filtered through that Zubkov’s crew were to have their first place rescinded, the issue became impossible to ignore.

“After that the matter started to play on my mind. I still tried to tell myself it wasn’t going happen but deep down I thought - one down one to go.”

But whilst Tasker, a former athlete who only turned to bobsleigh in 2010, has been understandably coy about the matter until now – there is soon to be no hiding place from the spotlight.

And for good reason, because once the inevitable is confirmed and the GB crew are officially awarded third place, he will go down in history as the first Welsh athlete to win a medal at a Winter Olympic games.

Furthermore, the development comes off the back of another career high, after Tasker, Fearon, Brad Hall, and Greg Cackett took bronze at the World Cup in Park City, America, in mid-November.

Furthermore, the quartet’s preparations for the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang in February are in full swing, and Tasker insists the current whirlwind around him will not distract his focus.

“If anything I think this will have the opposite effect and really boost confidence. The mood in the camp is very good at the moment and we are a tight-knight group. This news adds to recent British Bobsleigh successes and gives us more momentum ahead of PyeongChang.

“And none of us are getting carried away. Personally, I know I’m not going to be handed an Olympic medal anytime soon. I imagine the Russians will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and whilst I can’t see any decision being changed given the evidence – it won’t be a quick process.”

But what about when that process is finished? And all being well, Tasker’s place in history is secured. Will there be any bitterness?

After all, results and record books can be altered. Yet the adrenaline and elation of celebrating an Olympic medal as you cross the line, and subsequent ceremony and crowd adulation that follows, cannot be replicated.

Admirably, this is a factor Tasker refuses to dwell on.

“In all honesty, I came to terms with fact we were fifth when I left the stadium that day and I was proud of that.

“We were huge underdogs going in and came behind two excellent crews from Latvia and the USA, and of course two from Russia who we now know had more than just home advantage.

“For a team without a national bobsleigh track to use it was an amazing effort. So the recognition of what we did anyway always outweighed the disappointment at missing the podium.

“So I feel no bitterness. Just excitement at what’s ahead.”

And for the sake of Tasker, Jackson, Fearon, and Benson, let’s hope that what’s ahead is swift justice, and the presentation of a coveted Winter Olympic medal that they thought had passed them by.