Two years ago in Helsinki, when the British women sprint relay team were disqualified at the European Athletics Championships, the outcome meant no place at the home Olympic Games in London as the event was part of the qualifying process.
How times change.
On Thursday night in Zurich, not only did the British quartet of Asha Philip, Ashleigh Nelson, Anyika Onuora and Desiree Henry beat teams from Jamaica and the USA - a feat in itself - they also broke the national record for the second time in less than two weeks on the same track.
When Britain’s women won gold at the championships, they did so in 42.25, smashing a record time of 42.43 that had been set in 1980.
Now it has lasted a mere 11 days as Britain won in 42.21 from Jamaica in 42.33 and the USA in 42.48.
So, what has happened?
Along with hard work and training camps and time devoted to perfecting the skill, Britain also have a crop of young and outstanding sprinters, both men and women, who are feeding off of each other.
Philip is 23, Nelson is 23, Onuora is 29 and Henry is 19 and they broke the record even without Jodie Williams, who won individual 200m silver in Zurich and ran in the relay at the championships on the third leg, but not at this IAAF Diamond League meeting.
But as Onuora said afterwards on Thursday: “British women...we have all just stepped up and I am so proud to be part of this team.”
It is not only the women.
The men are led by Adam Gemili, 20, who won 200m gold and anchored the triumphant relay team at the European Athletics Championships, and Williams believes that the domestic rivalry among the youngsters is one of the keys to why they are all running so well, with the spin off being their combined success in the relay.
Williams, who also won 200m silver at the Commonwealth Games ahead of England teammate but no relation Bianca Williams who took bronze, said: “When you have a taste of competitiveness in your own country, it really spurs you on to want to perform at international level. We don’t get complacent.”
Speaking to the BBC, Stephen Maguire, British Athletics' head of sprints, sprint hurdles and relays, said: “We’re trying to connect with the young athletes as early as we can. We have all our medical teams under one roof.
“There’s a group that’s very exciting. It’s still pretty raw talent at this stage, but if we can put the right system around them and allow the coaches to give them what they need, the signs are positive.”
It is still early days. But from not making it in London, suddenly Britain’s relay women are building towards something special at the next Olympic Games in Rio in less than two years time.