Katarina Johnson-Thompson has spoken before about her Olympic heartache but she stands on the verge of finally cracking the podium in Paris.
Johnson-Thompson made her Olympic debut in London 12 years ago, a performance that was always about learning for future podium challenges.
In Rio she finished sixth - claiming the result was a 'massive missed opportunity – and in Tokyo she suffered a calf tear in the 200m and left the Games in tears.
The two-time world champion has not had the ideal preparation for Paris, pulling out of the European Championships with an 'injury niggle'.
However, she sits second in the heptathlon standings heading into tonight's decisive 800m at the Stade de France.
She held her nerve to record a 6.40m effort in the long jump and then recorded a solid season's best 45.49m in the javelin.
She led the standings after four events but Belgium's Nafissatou Thiam – the Olympic champion in Rio and Tokyo - produced a huge javelin performance to take a 121-point lead into final event.
That means Johnson-Thomson will need to beat her by huge eight second margin, although her personal best is six seconds to the good.
Meanwhile, Max Burgin booked his place in hottest final at the Olympics - but plans the keep flying under the radar.
Burgin became the first British athlete to make the final of 800m since Andrew Osagie 12 years ago as he clocked a personal best 1:43.50 in his semi-final.
With only the top two in three semis - plus the next two quickest times - progressing it's often said it's harder to make the 800m final than win a medal.
At last year's World Championships in Budapest, team-mate Ben Pattison was considered an outsider but snatched a bronze, Burgin is now hoping to take some inspiration from his Olympic Village room-mate.
"When there’s no pressure or expectation on you, I think it’s a big advantage mentality wise," said the former European junior champion.
"Having been in that situation when I was in the younger age groups, it’s a different level of stress entirely than going into the championships where you’re expected to win.
"That’s not to say people can’t win. Like Keely Hodgkinson for example, but it’s another mental challenge entirely."
Max Burgin has booked himself a spot in the men's 800m final tomorrow night after a smart run in a competitive field 👏 pic.twitter.com/gKRe1bPtUg
— Team GB (@TeamGB) August 9, 2024
Burgin is famously sick after his races, a mixture of nerves, adrenaline and exhaustion, but kept his petit dejeuner down on another humid day in the French capital.
Joining Burgin in Saturday's finals are both Team GB's 4x400m relay quartets, who progressed through their heats.
The women's team of Yemi Mary John, Hannah Kelly, Jodie Williams and Lina Nielsen clocked a season's best 3:24.72 to finish second to gold medal favourites USA.
And the men's quartet - Samuel Reardon, Matt Hudson-Smith, Toby Harries and Charles Dobson - were second behind Botswana in their heat, their time a season's best 2:58.88.
Sportsbeat 2024