The stars appear to be aligning perfectly for Australian Zoe Buckman who is chasing a most unexpected medal in the 1500m at the world athletics championships.
Buckman has soared into genuine medal contention after clocking the fastest semi-final time of four minutes 4.82 seconds - smashing her personal best along the way.
Just as impressive has been her ability to handle the swift changes of pace that occur in the middle distance events at major championships.
Coach Nic Bideau says Buckman has got much stronger in the 12 months since the London Olympics, where she was somewhat unlucky to be run out in the semis.
"She has real natural speed, having run 54 seconds for 400m as a junior, so I liked her profile as an athlete and I have felt for a while that women's 1500m is an event we can make an impact on," said Bideau.
The makeup of the field for Thursday night's final (Friday morning AEST) also favours the 24-year-old Buckman.
All three medallists from last year's London Olympics did not make it to Moscow, with gold medallist Asli Cakir Alptekin from Turkey provisionally banned for life earlier this year after a second doping offence.
Only two of the other 12 London finalists have got through to the title race in Moscow, although the field does include American Jennifer Simpson, the surprise winner of the 2011 world title.
Buckman came to Moscow hoping to set a PB and become the first Australian woman to contest a world 1500m final.
With those two targets ticked off, she has re-set her goals.
"Honestly, coming in I didn't think I was capable of medals," she said.
"My aim was just to get to the final and with what I have done the last few races I can see that I am capable of that.
"I have a fighting chance, and I have the kick down.
" ... my expectations are the only thing that matter and they are quite high and I am hungry to medal."
Bideau agrees that Buckman has every right to set her sights high.
"Some of the faster people don't appear to be running so well and she is at the top of her game," he said.
"She is certainly brave enough and capable of producing her best on big occasions as you have seen.
"It won't necessarily be won by the athlete capable of the fastest time.
"Strange things happen in these races and if she puts herself in it and makes the right decisions and things go her way, you never know what can happen."
