Matt Hudson-Smith billed it as ‘my London 2012’ - but nobody thought to tell Zambian teenager Muzala Samukonga.
A full house turned up expecting to see the Wolverhampton star crowned Commonwealth 400 metres champion on the track where he was raised.
Instead they sat in shock as a 19-year-old he had never heard of overtook him in the final 50 metres - then collapsed over the line and threw up.
Samukonga was on the track for 15 minutes being treated by medical staff before being taken away in a wheelchair.
The African champion had literally put everything into upsetting the form book yet had recovered by the medal presentation, leaving Hudson-Smith as the one looking sick.
“I went for the win but oh well,” said the local hero, who stacked shelves at a nearby Asda before becoming Britain’s fastest ever quarter-miler.
“Got the silver in front of my home crowd. Disappointed, but you’ve got to take the positives with the negatives.
“Is it the colour I wanted? No. But you’ve got to take the good with the bad. It was an amazing crowd. It’s been an amazing experience.”