Job done.
The aim for Mark English was to return to Dublin Airport with a European medal, and at lunchtime today that is exactly what transpired.
The 29-year-old believes a new approach was key to his success at the European Athletics Championships in Munich.
"It's nice to be home," the 800m-bronze-medal winner told RTÉ Sport. "It's been a whirlwind last 24 hours.
"I didn't get much sleep but it's nice to come back and see my sister and my auntie holding an Irish flag, it's amazing.
"I've been running my races a little more aggressively of late, thankfully that paid off and I was able to come away with a medal.
"I wanted to be in contention after the first 400 metres and then to be in the top 2-3 at 600 metres. I know that if you're in those places at those points then you're more than likely be in the medals".
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This medal-winning experience contrasted significantly to his bronze at the 2014 European Championships.
"It does feel different because in Zurich I wasn't expected to medal at all when I made the final because I qualified as a fastest qualifier. This time I was among the medal favourites".
A busy summer schedule continues for English in eight days' time when he competes at the World Athletics Continental Tour meet in the Italian City of Rovereto, with possibly another race to follow.
While English and Ciara Mageean provided the obvious highlights from an Irish perspective at the championships, the 16th-place finish on the team table indicates an overall strength in depth.
Sarah Lavin posted a new personal best in her semi-final heat of the 100m hurdles and finished fifth in the final.
"All of our coaches are predominantly volunteer, I've an amazing team around me, and a lot of that is luck to be honest with you," she said.
"I rocked up at seven years and I met my coach Noelle and she has coached me ever since. We've been on this journey together and she's upskilled along the way."
The Limerick woman hopes that identifying the key people responsible for the Irish team's good performances and supporting them will lead to future success.
