Australian Olufemi Komolafe says sprint hero Christian Coleman was the inspiration behind his decision to take risks on return from injury and chase his Stawell Gift dream.
It paid off handsomely for the 21-year-old medical student, whose stunning victory at Central Park on Easter Monday earned him a $40,000 winner's prize.
Komolafe first set eyes on the 120m handicap event four years ago and suffered a huge setback when a hamstring injury just about put this season's plans to bed.
But last month's announcement of American megastar Coleman joining the field prompted Komolafe to kick his rehabilitation into overdrive.
Former 100m world champion Coleman is the fastest man the world has ever seen over 60m.
"He was really the trigger for me to really start taking it seriously," Komolafe said.
"I had to take some risks. I would've liked to have taken it slower after a hamstring injury and make sure that I don't re-injure it.
"But I only had a few weeks left, so I had to take some risks and train every day and be relentless about it.
"Luckily I was able to come through without being worse for wear and I was ready."
Komolafe, the son of Nigerian parents, played soccer as a child and shone in school athletics without taking his sprinting seriously.
He now juggles sprint training while studying medicine at Adelaide University.
"It's tough. I'm not always managing it very well," Komolafe said.
"Exam period is always a bad time for my sprinting because I kind of just neglect it and don't really come out to train.
"A few injuries have come as a result of trying to come back after that, but you've just got to try and make it work - and it's worked out fine."
Coleman was eliminated in the semi-finals, when he gave up 5.25m to his closest rival.
"I'm competitor and I just really wanted to give myself a shot by making the final, but like I said, it's tough," Coleman said.
"You're running on grass, giving up that much of a margin and people train specifically for this to be at their best.
"I had fun, that's the main thing in track and field, and if you're healthy you give yourself a better chance to keep getting better."
