As a mammoth summer of sport comes to a crescendo with the Olympics, two certainties come with it. The first is that black athletes will shower themselves in glory and medals in the track events. The other is that in the minds and myths of many their success will further establish a relationship between race and sporting prowess.

Hasnat Khan has never been one to follow his own advice. As a heart surgeon he tells his patients to stay away from greasy foods, do lots of exercise and keep healthy. As an individual he eats takeaways, smokes heavily and drinks a lot of coffee. Those who know him say he is a quiet, shy man who likes to keep himself to himself. In 1995 he started dating the most famous, least private individual in the world - the Princess of Wales.

And what the conversation loses in logic it more than makes up for in moral certainty.