Eight long years have passed since the nation watched Eliza McCartney shoot into pole vaulting stardom, just a teenager winning her first Olympic medal and stunning heavyweights of the world at Rio 2016.
Finally, McCartney is back on athletics' centre stage.
"I'm so happy to be back," she said. "I'm so happy to be back!
"It's just one of those things when nothing in sport is guaranteed. Even this year, leading into this moment, things can go wrong, but I've gotten here and it feels like a really big achievement right now.
"I'm really just lapping that up."
The journey has been long and frustrating for the McCartney, 27, who has endured ongoing injury issues, missed Tokyo qualification and then a coaching saga that left her searching for another mentor last year.
The pole vault star was a surprise bronze medallist at Rio 2016 (Source: 1News)
"I don't know if I've ever had an ideal build-up to anything, so this is fine," she laughed.
Eight months ago, she teamed up with Briton Scott Simpson, who has coached other high profile athletes, including 2024 World Indoor Champion Molly Caudery.
"You wouldn't necessarily want to change coaches, but Scott Simpson has been incredible, understanding the situation that he's walked into, with three women that are training for an Olympics. He's done a phenomenal job, I can't overstate that.
"The changes I've noticed in my confidence jumping have been huge and that might not be so obvious watching, but this is next level for me at the moment.
"To be honest, it makes me excited for the next Olympic cycle and what can we do in four years."
'As sensible as possible'
McCartney's preparation has been far from ideal. While she won silver at the indoor world championships earlier this year, competition has been almost non-existent since. Managing her body is now a key focus to achieve lofty heights again.
"It was a really important reminder that I can do this, as weird as that might sound. I can compete at the top, I am good enough.
"My pole vaulting is good. I haven't had performances like that in the past few months, but I'm hoping to have a few competitions lined up after the Olympics as well, so I can get into the flow again.
"I feel really good about my body's ability to compete on Monday and that's going to be my focus right now.
"I've basically tried to be as sensible as possible. I would love to compete more, but it's just where I'm at at my age stage of pole vault.
"I think we've made the right calls, so I can be here and in a good place."
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