Richard Kilty has revealed he is basking in the glory of being a world gold medallist that nobody could have predicted.
Two weeks after winning the 60m title at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Sopot, the British sprinter has spoken to British Athletics about how he just never gave up on his dream of making it to the top.
“Whatever hurdles come your way, never lose sight of your dreams and always keep them in front of you no matter what.
'I think sometimes a bit of luck can come along but I think you can create your own luck. Don’t lose track of why you started and what your dream is and aim everything towards that,” he declared.
Kilty's triumph in Poland has now given him a new direction in a big year ahead.
Not only is he in the running for a medal at the European Athletics Championships in Zurich in August, but a few weeks earlier could find himself facing Usain Bolt at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
But he is taking all the new-found fame and pressure in his stride, because he never stopped believing.
“It’s been a bit crazy actually with so many interviews and people wanting to talk to me back home and it’s so strange – I’ve never had anything like this before.”
With spring now here, all thoughts turn to the outdoor season and for Kilty, it could mean going up against Europe’s very best in Zurich.
He has a 100m personal best of 10.10 but his winter has shown such brilliant improvement, as he brought his quickest indoor time of 6.62 down to the 6.49 he ran when winning gold, a mirror image of that could also see him play a big part in what should be the 100m race of the year.
In Zurich, France’s Christophe Lemaitre will be bidding for a hat-trick of titles, up against his teammate Jimmy Vicaut and while James Dasaolu looked the biggest threat from Britain, Kilty will surely be determined to put himself in the mix.