He puffed out his cheeks and the feeling of relief could probably have been felt all way from Prague to Paris. Renaud Lavillenie had made it into the final of the pole vault at the European Athletics Indoor Championships - but only just.
When you are the greatest of the modern era, as he is, and the world record-holder with 6.16m, as he is, then there is pressure and scrutiny with every move.
So, imagine the tension in the 02 Arena on the opening morning of the championships when Lavillenie sent the bar crashing down on the first two of his three attempts at 5.70m in the qualifying competition of an event where he is the overwhelming favourite for gold.
After his second failure, he slowly walked back to his seat by the side of the runway. He pulled on his tracksuit bottoms, he looked around, he walked across to speak to an official and then he sat contemplating.
One more go between him and one of the shock stories of this indoor track and field season.
But Frenchman Lavillenie proved he is made of stern stuff as round three beckoned.
He stood motionless as his name was called out. At first there was silence, then a growing hand-clapping as he sped towards his destiny. He unleashed himself high and to his delight, over the bar, twisting his legs with perhaps less elegance than he normally does, but it worked.
The bar remained.
He bounced back up off the mat.
And then he puffed out his cheeks.
Now for the final on Saturday night, which for a while looked like it might be missing its star turn.
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