Olympic hopeful Andrew Osagie revealed how he has been inspired by just three words from middle-distance legend Steve Ovett.
Osagie is aiming to follow in Ovett's footsteps by winning gold over 800 metres in London and can draw on words of wisdom from the man himself after Ovett - Olympic champion in Moscow in 1980 - proved keen to pass on his experience.
"I spoke to Steve Ovett in New York two weeks ago and that was a big positive for him to say to me 'You've got something,"' Osagie said ahead of this weekend's Olympic trials in Birmingham.
"Those few words probably mean more to me than sitting down and having an hour conversation with a coach. Someone who has been there and done it, to give kind words and nice words is really good.
"I saw him in the mixed zone after the race and said it would be great to catch up later. It's one of those things I've said to Seb Coe in the past but he's been so busy it just hasn't gone forward, but he (Ovett) was really, really keen.
"We were staying in the same hotel and he came and found me in the lobby and it was totally inspirational. It definitely spurred me on for these next five weeks."
That five weeks of course leads up to the opening ceremony in London, but any dreams of Olympic glory must first overcome the reality of the Aviva Trials this weekend.
The first two athletes in each event will gain selection, providing they have the 'A' qualifying standard, and Osagie will be out to repeat his victory in last year's world championship trials at the same venue.
Osagie, who has a black belt in karate, is certainly not lacking in self-belief and admits he is "probably overly confident" in his own ability, but a bronze medal in the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul and a number of good performances on the Diamond League circuit are at least vindicating such convictions.
"I love pressure," added the 24-year-old from Essex, who set a new personal best of one minute 44.61 seconds in finishing third in New York. "I love competing, racing, pressure.
"If it wasn't there I wouldn't be in the sport as much, I wouldn't enjoy it as much. There's nothing better than overcoming a challenge and that's why I set myself targets that I'm going to do in the next year or so.
"That feeling of ticking that box, hitting that target, overcoming that pressure, that's the buzz that I do it for. I never shy away from it, never fear pressure.
"In my head I've always had the potential and people have told me you've got the potential to maybe start winning some of these races or doing well and luckily it's coming true. The timing is right for me, it's a big year for British athletes."
However, while the likes of Coe and Ovett were usually the favourites to win medals at major championships, Osagie - and everyone else - find themselves with plenty of ground to make up on world record holder David Rudisha.
Rudisha has run the two fastest times in the world this year, with his 1:41.74 in New York almost a second and a half ahead of his nearest rival, and the Kenyan could even feature in his country's 4x400m relay team in London.
"Before I looked at Coe and Ovett I looked at Wilson Kipketer because he held the world record at the time," Osagie added. "He looked annoyingly relaxed when he runs and you think 'How on earth can you run that fast and look that relaxed?'
"But you look at someone like Rudisha now and he does the same thing. He is an impressive specimen. I raced against him in New York when he ran the world lead and despite being in the race, I finished the race, saw the clock and was like 'Oh my God, well done' as if I was a fan again. He brings that excitement back to the 800m which is definitely needed.
"I'm so competitive that I never mention that anyone is better than me. At the moment he obviously is, but I am nowhere near reaching my potential.
"I would love to think my potential is anywhere near 1:41. I'm not sure it is or not, but when I step on the line I like to be competitive and anything can happen. Someone can have a bad day or trip up and you have to be there to jump on that opportunity."
If that opportunity arrives in London, Osagie will have an Olympic memory of his own to replace that of seeing Usain Bolt storm to victory in Beijing.
"You watch it on Youtube and it still gives you a shiver on your neck," Osagie added. "Steve Cram's commentary on the 100m; I wish that commentary could be about me some day."
