Four years ago Adam Gemili was paying just a passing interest in the Beijing Olympics, much preferring football to athletics at the time, and just a month ago the London Games still barely featured on his radar.
Now the 18-year-old is Britain's top ranked sprinter in 2012 and the only man - or boy - to qualify automatically for the team in the 100 metres, with world record holder and triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt suddenly in his sights.
"My first Olympic memory was Beijing if I'm honest," said Gemili.
"I remember the 100m but I wasn't too much into athletics. I've seen it since on Youtube and I've been doing my research.
"I feel privileged that I've earned a place and I will be lining up against the likes of Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell, potentially anything can happen in that race and it feels really good.
"I will be running against the best guys in the world and hopefully I'll run the times they run and maybe even better it. Just to be there on the day will be amazing.
"I'm improving a lot and that 10.08 was quite scrappy, it wasn't my best race. I've made a lot of improvements and changes and if I keep improving then we can hopefully see some quicker times."
That 10.08 refers to Gemili's breakthrough performance in Regensburg, Germany on June 2, when he suddenly shot to the top of the national rankings with an Olympic 'A' standard qualifying time.
Finishing first or second in the Olympic trials would therefore secure his place in London, something the former footballer duly achieved when chasing home Dwain Chambers in Birmingham.
His coach Michael Afilaka insisted running in London was still not guaranteed however, admitting he was concerned Gemili might get burnt out in the "cauldron" of a home Olympics, but Gemili added: "I think it got misconstrued.
"I was physically exhausted but I was happy, I was over the moon. That night I didn't get to bed until about 4am because I was so happy. I was emotional because I couldn't believe I had finished in the top two and had got automatic selection.
"The Olympics only came on my radar about a month ago when it became a possibility that I could go to the Games as part of the relay or anything like that. My family had applied for tickets, thinking we could go and watch some of the athletics or other events, but we didn't get any.
"The last month or so has been really hectic and manic but I've enjoyed every moment of it and enjoyed showing people what I can do and how I can run."
Gemili should get several chances to show people how he can run in London, with UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee revealing the teenager would also feature in the 4x100m relay team.
Britain's poor record in the event continued last weekend when they failed to get the baton beyond the first leg of the European Championship final in Helsinki, with Gemili set to bring some fresh legs to a team containing what Van Commenee described as the "fossils" of Chambers and Christian Malcolm.
"It's unfortunate what happened at the weekend but I don't think it's much of a reflection of how the work is going," Gemili insisted.
"If we get it on point and get the baton round everyone is running really quick so we can show people what we can do.
"I've been taking part in the junior relay quite a lot and we got silver at the Europeans last year and that helped me a lot, it's the same technique all British athletes use and the guys have all been really helpful, welcoming me to the team and showing me the basics.
"In juniors I've been running the anchor leg but I'd take any leg they give me, I'm just happy to be in the team."
