Nathan Douglas, for the first time conquering his big occasion nerves, realised some of his vast potential when winning the European Championship triple jump silver medal in Gothenburg.
Douglas, after the misery of the last three summers of underperforming at European Under-23 level, the Olympic Games and World Championships, finally gained a podium place.
The British number two's mid-competition comeback enabled him, with a best effort of 17.21metres, to finish second to Sweden's Olympic champion Christian Olsson.
However, Douglas is under no illusions that to grab a medal at a higher level than these championships he will have to consistently jump closer to his personal best of 17.64m.
That is real world-class jumping and Olsson effectively retained his title early, with a leap of 17.67m on the second of his six attempts in the Ullevi Stadium - scene of Jonathan Edwards' memorable world record back in 1995.
Olsson's superb return to action after missing last year injured, effectively left the remainder of the field, fighting for the silver and bronze medals.
Phillips Idowu was an early candidate, holding third place behind Nelson Evora who had a best of 17.07m, until Douglas flew into second place with a 17.12m third-round effort.
Then Douglas went even further in the next launching himself out to what proved to be his silver medal-winning distance.
Idowu, the Commonwealth champion, again slipped backwards when Romania's Marian Oprea, the Olympic silver medallist, went third with a 17.18m fifth-round attempt.
That relegated Idowu to fifth the same position he occupied four years ago at the championships in Munich.
Douglas, with two no-jumps and Oprea on his tail, failed to move himself into a position of safety, but his rival ran out of attempts.
"It didn't feel like 17 metres but when I saw it on the scoreboard I tell you I was pleased," said Douglas when certain he had bagged his medal.
Douglas recalled how his confidence soared after his first 17.12m effort.
"It felt like it was starting to come together. I knew I could produce more speed on the runway and definitely had more in me and it proved the case.
"I composed myself and then went out and jumped even further."
Now Douglas, who also reached the World Indoors final in Moscow, is hoping he has finally conquered his big championship nerves.
"Helsinki last summer was really hard for me," he said, recalling how he did not make the final cut then.
"Then I had surgery afterwards which effectively ruined my winter campaign so this season's season's been long and hard for me."
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