Adam Gemili had an extraordinary, eye-opening time at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow.
Not 20 for another five weeks or so, the young Londoner became only the second Briton after John Regis to run under 20 seconds for the 200m and joined Usain Bolt in becoming the only teenagers in athletics history to achieve it.
In Saturday’s final Gemili was drawn outside the Jamaican and admitted he “knew he was coming”.
“It was an incredible experience being on the outside of Usain Bolt in my first major final, and in the top eight of the world,” he said.
“The whole stadium pretty much erupted for Usain and hopefully one day I will be in that position. But it just put a smile on my face, and I was so relaxed.”
Asked if the great man had passed on any words of wisdom, Gemili said: “The call room (where athletes gather before going to the track) was so relaxed, not what I expected. All the guys know each from the circuit. They were all happy and friendly with each other and Usain came up to me and asked me how I was feeling.
“I replied that I was good and that I was just going to go out and try to enjoy it.
“He said: ‘Yeah, make sure you enjoy every moment of it because you’re going to get older like me one day’.
“He was great. He just said to go out there and execute and he’d see me at the finish!”
Which is what happened, Bolt taking his seventh world championship gold in a world leading 20.66, with the British youngster an outstanding fifth in 20.08.
“On the start line I could see he was inside me and knew he’d be there in a minute. And he’s so tall. I was looking up at him. They’re massive guys. I’m only 19. I’ve still got some growing to do.
“So I just tried to relax and put myself in the mix. And I think I did that. I’ll go home with my head held high. I am just very proud, very happy, and very grateful.”