Long, long after the race he ran alone, beyond the madness of the Stadio Olimpico, the heaving media scrums and millions of tweets, Wayde van Niekerk celebrated his stunning night of history the only way he ever wanted.
The world's newest superstar went back to his family's hotel in Rio deep into Sunday night, sat back and listened to the music of familiar voices going crazy around him.
Wayde van Niekerk shows his coach Anna "Tannie Ans" Botha his appreciation in Rio de Janeiro on Monday following his record-breaking run to clinch South Africa's first gold medal at the Olympics. Photo: Ockert de Villiers
"No, I couldn't sleep. I couldn't. I just sat back and listened to my family going crazy! I've got a few characters in my family, so it was like watching a reality TV show."
As it turned out, Big Brother delivered a heck of a narrative himself, in a part of the world that means more to him than he lets on.
"I'm a massive football fan, and obviously of the Brazilian football team. I've watched all of their stars growing up, so Rio is very special to me."
Van Niekerk gave that rare insight into his obsession with Brazil and football a week before his heroics, and emphasised that it was extra special to have his family here, of all places.
"It's one of my favourite cities in the world, so it was a big dream to come here. To be able to fly in my family as well, it's amazing," he said a week ago.
And so, while the world's media scrambled for another angle, yet more insight into this slightly-built, softly spoken force of nature, Wayde's World was complete, everything that mattered in one room.
"This is beyond just my journey. My coaches, my family, my friends... they all played a huge role. That's why I am so grateful to share this with them," he glistened.
In the press conference and the mixed zone on Sunday, everyone just wanted to hear one voice. Yet, in his sanctuary, the star was the happiest of silent observers.
"They just took over! They started sharing stories about their adventures in Rio, and the day that they had in the stands."
To say he was chuffed would be as understated as to say his 43.03 on Sunday was a decent effort.
Even he hasn't quite come to terms with it yet.
"I've watched the race, a few times. I still can't believe it's me running that race. I just said 'Jesus, take over'," he reflected.
He beamed as brightly as he had shone on the track when he went back to his family and their unbridled joy.
His life has changed and, consequently, so has theirs. And yet, his phenomenal rise is one that shows no signs of abating yet.
He is 24. Twenty-four. When Michael Johnson, the previous standard-bearer in the 400m, shook the world at the Centennial Games in Atlanta in 1996, he was 28 and at the peak of his considerable powers.
Van Niekerk will be 28 in Tokyo. Incredibly, his best may still come down the road. He is still tweaking, still perfecting his stride with the world's most famous 74-year-old as coach.
For now, though, Van Niekerk and his clan of characters are soaking it all up, in one of his favourite cities in the world.