It came eight years after Kenny lost out to future knight-of-the-realm Chris Hoy at Beijing 2008.

On that occasion he was a young novice, desperate to cling on and shock the great Scot.

Today, his role was reversed as the 28-year-old used all his experience and tactical nous to see off his young opponent and move level with team-mate Sir Bradley Wiggins and rower Sir Steve Redgrave in winning a fifth Olympic gold.

Only Sir Chris has now won more, and Kenny could soon emulate him if he wins the keirin.

Kenny sat behind Skinner in the opening race of the best-of-three series before powering ahead with an explosive acceleration off the penultimate bend.

Skinner, who has come of age at these Games after anchoring the British team sprint trio to gold, tried to copy Kenny's tactics in the second race.

But the man from Bolton was too strong, pulling away from his room-mate to claim gold again.

“[Last night] We did the same thing we normally do, had dinner, went to bed, had breakfast, had lunch and came here - it’s really boring," Kenny said after.

“It did take me back to Beijing a little bit.

"I remember sitting having breakfast with Chris that morning and it was a bit of the same this time. 

“I enjoyed it, it was a bit lonely at London 2012 with it only just being one per nation and being on my own in the finals. 

"It’s just better to be with someone who’s going through the same thing.”

Kenny becomes just the third man to win the Olympic sprint title twice and the first since Germany's Jens Fiedler at Atlanta 1996.

Denis Dmitriev of Russia won the battle for bronze over Matthew Glaetzer of Australia.

Britain have the prospect of more medals to come as 30 times Tour de France stage winner Mark Cavendish closed the opening day of the omnium in third place on 96 points.

He lies 10 behind French leader Thomas Boudat after today's scratch race, individual pursuit and elimination races.

Road rival Elia Viviani of Italy is second.