When Antti Ruuskanen looks back on his career, the summer of 2014 will surely stand out as the best.
It was a golden time, culminating with him winning the javelin at the European Athletics Championships in Zurich in August.
But two months earlier he played a big part in a big moment for his country as he helped Finland win promotion to the Super League of the European Athletics Team Championships for the first time since 2010.
The Finns finished in third spot in the First League in Tallinn to book their place in Cheboksary next month.
Along with 3000m steeplechaser Sandra Eriksson, Olympic bronze medallist Ruuskanen was one of two Finnish athletes who triumphed in Estonia to lead their nation to the sport’s biggest team competition.
Now for the next step: staying there.
It will be a big challenge on the weekend of June 20-21 against some of the mighty powers of European Athletics, such as hosts Russia and the defending champions Germany.
Ruuskanen will be a key player, and his track record shows he has the nerve to deliver when it matters.
A distance of 79.62m brought him victory in Tallinn before in Zurich he beat defending champion Vitezslav Vesely, of the Czech Republic, with a personal best of 88.01m, the leading throw by a European in 2014.
See Ruuskanen's winning throw from Zurich 2014 below:
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As he celebrated his victory he said he was 'lucky today' but knew it was all about getting it right on the day, which in the end is what matters most when it comes to world-class sporting success.
'My technique worked out well,' he added. 'Normally my throws are quite low. Today, they were higher and this gave me a lot of metres.'
His glory in 2014 was a decade's reward for a career where he established himself by winning bronze at the European Athletics Junior Championships in 2003 and silver at the European Athletics U23 Championships in 2005.
His first step onto the senior podium came with his fine third place at the Olympic Games in London 2012 but now, at the age of 31, he has really come into his own. Cheboksary could be another big moment.