It's another landmark moment in the life of Sebastian Coe who today celebrates his 60th birthday.
To the modern era, he is the man at the helm of the IAAF, their President whose persistence as the chairman of the organising committee brought the Olympic Games to London in 2012.
But, of course, first and foremost he is an athlete - with track and field running through his veins after one of the greatest careers in the history of the sport, which saw him break 12 world records (nine outdoors, three indoors) and win the Olympic 1500m title in Moscow 1980 before retaining it in Los Angeles four years later.
And today, of all days, as we help him celebrate his birthday, let’s look back at his success on the major European stage where his career of golden glory actually began in San Sebastian in 1977 and where in 1986 he had one of his most famous victories.
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With two laps to go of the 800m final at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in 1977, Coe was in the lead.
He was just 20, he was an emerging talent, he had been a European junior 1500m bronze medallist in 1975 and now he was in front in the biggest race of his life.
But he showed immense confidence and experience and just stretched his lead with every stride, winning in 1:46.54, a championship record, from East Germany’s Erwin Gohlke (1:46.2h) and Switzerland’s Rolf Gysin (1:47.6h).
Brought up in Sheffield, he joined Hallamshire Harriers AC when he was 12 and coached by his father Peter, his career now had gold medal take off.
The following year, his legendary rivalry with fellow Britain Steve Ovett was just growing, and they found themselves together in the final of the 800m at the European Athletics Championships in Prague.
But the pair had to settle for silver and bronze, as German Olaf Beyer (1:43.84) came through for gold from Ovett (1:44.09) and Coe (1:44.76). Ovett went on to win the 1500m and by the next European Athletics Championships in Athens in 1982, Coe had his chance again.
Yet he was beaten to gold again, this time by West Germany’s Hans-Peter Ferner in 1:46.33 from Coe in 1:46.88.
He would not give. Showing the tenacity which has been the backbone for his life, Stuttgart in 1986 became his moment on this stage.
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On a wet track, Coe did not start well and at the bell he was last, with fellow Briton Steve Cram a place in front of him and teammate Tom McKean ahead of them both.
All along Coe was biding his time. Cram made his move on the back straight, Coe went with him but McKean looked the best of them all as they reached the home turn.
Then, with 80m to go, as BBC commentator David Coleman said: 'And here comes Coe, a dramatic move on the outside.' It was a move which led to gold, as he powered through to lead a British cleansweep, winning in 1:44.50 from McKean (1:44.61) and Cram (1:44.48).
At last he was the European outdoor champion and a few days later, he was on the podium again, winning silver in the 1500m behind Cram.
From everyone at European Athletics, Happy Birthday Seb!