Andreas Kramer, 25, claimed his only championship medal to date when he took silver at the 2018 European Championships. He was aiming for another in Munich, but for a while it looked like the dream would end after the trials.
In his trial heat, which on paper was one of the toughest of all, he took the lead straight away and held it all the way to the race.
Two seconds off the year's best
But there he fell silent, and was overtaken by no less than four runners.
Kramer's time was 1.46.50, almost two seconds off his year's best.
- It was tough today.
I followed the tactics, but I wished it responded a little better in the last 150 meters, says Kramer to SVT Sport.
- Sometimes it gets tough.
It is clearly tough to drive from the front as well, when you are also helping the others.
But that was the tactic we decided on today.
The time I did was not a super time, but still a time that can be enough today.
But I had really bet on one of the top three positions.
"Nervous waiting"
With the first three in each heat, plus the fastest four otherwise, advancing, Kramer had to hope that the following three heats would be slower.
And so it became.
- It was a bit of a nervous wait, actually.
I know that this time will stand strong in an EC in a test race in the morning, when everyone might not be at their best.
I am very happy, he says.
Söderholm and Lillemo eliminated
However, there will be no Swedish women in the 3,000 meter hurdles final.
Linn Söderholm and Emilia Lillemo were eliminated in the trials at the Olympic Stadium.
Söderholm finished tenth in his heat, and since only the top four in each heat plus the four best times went to the final, the EC adventure ended immediately.
Emilia Lillemo finished in 13th place in her heat.