The population of the Bosnia & Herzegovina town of Kakanj is around 39,000, so you must have achieved something pretty big if 20,000 of those people come to pay homage to you. But there again, winning the first medal for your country in a major athletics championships is quite a landmark.
'The reaction was really amazing,' said Amel Tuka. 'Kakanj was where I grew up. It was great that I could make the people happy. There are no words to explain the feeling of 20,000 people being in front of you and they are motivation for me to also win a medal here.'
He was recalling today that homecoming response to his bronze medal in the 800m at last year's IAAF World Championships in Beijing, just moments after he had negotiated the first small part of his bid for double glory this summer.
Tuka had no trouble reaching tomorrow night's semi-finals at these European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam in a what could be a thrilling few weeks with the Olympic Games in Rio next month.
As Dutchman Thijmen Kupers (1:46.48) won their heat in the Olympic Stadium this morning, Tuka came from fifth with 200m to go to ease into second in 1:46.94. It was the quickest of all the races, and for the Bosnian, a different feeling to this time last year.
Not until the Diamond League in Monaco on 17 July 2015 did Tuka catch the attention, but then he ran a world-leading 1:42.51, a performance he transferred into a medal in Beijing.
He said: 'Now it is a little harder because before Monte Carlo last year, I was a little in the shadow and nobody knew much about me. Now when I come to a meeting and a championship, everybody expects something.
'But I am happy because I do not feel any pressure. I want to stay relaxed and enjoy every race.
'Last year was amazing. I would like to repeat that 1:42. I feel good, and I have trained very hard this year.
'At the last European Athletics Championships in 2014 I was sixth and now I hope I am in better shape and can fight for one of the medals. But the Europeans are very strong.'
If all the main players progress to the final, Tuka will find himself up against defending champion Adam Kszczot, who won world silver ahead of him, and his Polish teammate Marcin Lewandowski, along with Pierre-Ambroise Bosse of France, who leads the European lists with 1:44.51.
Tuka's best in 2016 is 1:45.23, while Kupers showed this morning that he will be a big threat, particularly with the backing of the Dutch crowd.
Though if Tuka closes his eyes and thinks of the support he will be getting back in Kakanj, he will be as driven as any of the athletes from the host nation.
Kszczot, Lewandowski and Bosse will be Tuka's main rivals in Amsterdam
'You need a lot of luck' - Adam Kszczot is relieved to have progressed through the 800m heats #ECH2016 pic.twitter.com/69vHGyepFk
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) July 7, 2016
Marcin Lewandowski pays tribute to his coach (and brother), Tomasz, after reaching #ECH2016 800m semi-finals pic.twitter.com/BI0Zs56FLP
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) July 7, 2016
Pierre-Ambroise Bosse says he must improve on his performance in the 800m heats ahead of the semi-finals #ECH2016 pic.twitter.com/cbKm0JNxfR
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) July 7, 2016