Dwain Chambers has the chance to erase the painful memories of his last two European Championship appearances when he bids for 100 metre gold in Barcelona next week.
The 32-year-old saw his 2002 European title taken away for his use of banned steroid THG, while his victory as part of the sprint relay team four years later was overshadowed by team-mate Darren Campbell's refusal to do the customary lap of honour in protest at Chambers' inclusion after serving a two-year suspension.
But Chambers goes into this summer's Championships with his career resurrected and as one of Britain's best hopes of a gold medal.
"I've made a lot of mistakes and I've been able to put them behind me now and look forward," said Chambers from the Aviva GB&NI Preparation Camp in Monte Gordo, Portugal.
"With this opportunity doing it the right way is so much more rewarding for me.
"It's another opportunity for me to go out there and perform at the highest level. And it will be my last Europeans, obviously I'm not going to be around for much longer. It's going to be a great opportunity for me to get back on that start line again and do it in a better climate.
"If I get the win it would be a great reward and be really special to me. I just hope that I'm able to go there and do that."
Chambers heads into Barcelona as the number-two ranked European over 100m this season, behind France's Christophe Lemaitre.
The Londoner clocked 9.99 seconds to beat the 20-year-old at the European Team Championships in Bergen last month, but Lemaitre has since run 9.98secs.
"Obviously the gold medal is everybody's ambition," added Chambers, who admitted he may have to dip below his personal best of 9.97s, set way back in 1999, to win.
"I've got competition from all the other individuals out there on the start line and that includes the young French boy Christophe Lemaitre.
"I think he's still going to be riding on the confidence that he has a faster time than me.
"But if anything it's just spurred me on to go out and do even better.
"Experience is the one ace card that I have. I have to draw on what I have in abundance, which is experience."
That, though, will not involve trying to intimidate his young rival before the race.
"I'm not going to do that, I don't want to frighten the kid," he said. "I want him to have fun. And ultimately that's what we're there to do.
"My three kids have taught me patience, so I have to exercise that.
"The days of running angry are done for me. On that start line I just want to focus, continue smiling and enjoying what I do best. That seems to be working so far."
Chambers, who turned his back on athletics in favour of first American football and then rugby league after the 2006 European Championships before returning to the sport, admits his journey back to the top was a lonely one.
"It has been tough, don't get me wrong. And there have been times when I've felt like I've been on my own," he said.
"But there have been a number of people that have been very supportive - my friends and my family, [UK Athletics head coach] Charles [van Commenee], members of staff at UKA.
"I've had to re-evaluate myself and just really focus on the positives that are coming out of the situation.
"And it's rewarding to be back on the team and have everyone working with each other to make the best of the team. It feels much more enjoyable."