It is a commentator’s job to become excited, to raise the noise level as the race reaches its climax, but rarely do they find themselves in the position that Steve Cram did at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Tuesday night.
A thrilling women’s 1500m was entering the final stages and among those chasing a medal was England’s Laura Weightman…who just so happens to be coached by the man behind the microphone.
Talking to an audience of millions in his role as the lead athletics voice on BBC television, Cram somehow managed to maintain his composure and professionalism as Weightman came through to take silver behind Kenyan Faith Kipyegon with Canada’s Kate van Buskirk in third.
These were the final words from Cram, the first world 1500m champion among his many honours, in those last few metres.
“What delight for Laura Weightman and I have to say, for me aswell. Well done Laura, a lot of hard work has gone into that.'
Weightman, from Alnwick, in the North East of England, has been coached by Cram since 2009 after seeing him at their local club.
And the outcome was silver, with a run that saw Kenyan Hellen Obiri, one of the favourites, back in sixth in 4:10.84 as her teammate Kipyegon won in 4:08.94 from Weightman in 4:09.24 and Van Buskirk in 4:09.41.
Weightman, speaking to the BBC, said: 'I am not sure how Steve copes with the emotions and the pressures of coaching me then commentating on me. But hopefully this is the start of things for us.
'I don't think words can describe the feeling crossing the line and getting that medal you want so desperately.
'I was hanging on for dear life and trying to close in on the Kenyan.
'Steve told me that if I came off the track, wherever I finished, knowing I'd given everything then I could be happy. I am glad I gave it everything I could.'
Speaking later to the BBC, Cram added: 'I am so proud of Laura. There are a lot of athletes who have so much talent and don't have to work so hard. But Laura really puts the effort in and is so easy for me to coach from that perspective.
'The two Kenyans are the best in the world but if they have an off day you have to be ready to take that opportunity. Laura is a real scrapper.'
It was a night of silvers for the English athletes at Hampden Park with the team winning four more.
In the 110m hurdles, Will Sharman just could not overtake Jamaica’s Andrew Riley who won in 13.32 from the Englishman, one of the favourites for a medal at next month’s European Athletics Championships in Zurich, in 13.36, with Shane Brathwaite, of Barbados, third in 13.49.
Ashley Bryant scored 8109 points for silver in the decathlon as Damian Warner, of Canada, the bronze medallist from last year’s IAAF World Championships in Moscow, won with 8282 and Grenada’s Kurt Felix was third with 8070.
A second round personal best of 14.09m from Laura Samuel brought second place in the triple jump as Jamaican Kimberly Williams won with 14.21m and Trinidad & Tobago’s Ayanna Alexander was third with 14.01m.
The hammer brought silver and bronze for European athletes - with the second round again key as all three medal distances were decided from this part of the competition.
England's Nicholas Miller threw 72.99m to book second place ahead of Scotland’s Mark Dry in third with 71.64m as Canada’s Jim Steacy landed gold with 74.16m.