The last time that race walking took place at the European Athletics Championships, Robert Heffernan found himself so close, yet so far.
In both the 20km and 50km events in Barcelona in 2010, the Irishman finished fourth.
But now, as he leads his country’s team to Zurich next month, he will go there as a gold medallist in his own right.
Heffernan produced the performance of his life last summer to win the 50km world title in Moscow and now he is ready for more glory at the European Athletics Championships.
As Ireland named their team on Monday, Heffernan said: 'I am really looking forward to the huge challenge that lies ahead in Zurich and look forward to bringing more national pride to Ireland.'
He is becoming good at that.
Heffernan has not competed over the 50km this year where the European Athletics rankings are led by Russia’s Mikhail Ryzhov whose time of 3:39:05 came as he won the IAAF World Race Walking Cup in Taicang in May.
Heffernan competed over the 20km in China where he finished 23rd, saving himself for the longer challenge - and Ryzhov will be all too aware of that.
In Moscow last summer, Heffernan beat Ryzhov to become the first Irish athlete to win a gold medal at the World Championships for 18 years when he triumphed in 3:37:56 with his Russian rival second in 3:38:58.
The podium awaits in Zurich as he looks to finish that one place higher, at least, than four years ago.
Back in Barcelona, Heffernan set the then national record time of 3:45:30 in fourth place as France’s Yohann Diniz won the 50km walk in 3:40:37, while in the 20km the Irish star missed out on a medal by 0.11 in 1:21:00 with Russia’s Stanislav Emelyanov winning in 1:20:10.
The world champion will lead an Irish team of 25 athletes to Zurich which includes triple SPAR European Cross Country gold medallist Fionnuala Britton who runs in the 5000m and 10,000m.