Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith on Wednesday regained his European 400m title at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium track where he honed his talent as a youth.
Hudson-Smith, the Olympic silver medallist, European record-holder and European champion from 2018 and 2022, timed 44.17 seconds for victory.
France's Muhammad Abdallah Kounta claimed silver in 44.40sec, with Dutch athlete Jonas Phijffers taking bronze in a national record of 44.41.
"I feel amazing," an emotional Hudson-Smith said over the stadium tannoy. "I wouldn't have been here without you.
"Words can't describe how much that meant to me."
Hudson-Smith added: "I knew I was the best in the world. I knew that, on paper, I was a second faster than every single one of these guys. It was about me and the clock.
"My coach just said 'Once you seal the deal, make sure you do it'.
"'This is your home - defend it'. I knew that for them to beat me they have to have a super special moment.
"Nobody was going to beat me on this track. This is my home. I have been here since nine."
Hudson-Smith arrived back in Britain's second city from his Florida training base as Europe's fastest man this season, clocking a world-leading 44.09sec.
Competing in front of a home crowd at Alexander Stadium, with a temporary stand named in his honour for the duration of the championships, the 31-year-old did not disappoint.
Drawn in lane nine, the Wolverhampton native delivered a belter of an opening 300 metres that made for a tense finish.
He was quickly out of his blocks, moving immediately ahead of Kounta down the far straight.
As he entered the final bend, the crowd in the stand bearing his name took to their feet in raucous cheer.
Hudson-Smith tired badly as the finish line beckoned, Kounta's well-timed run threatening to ruin a dream night for the Briton.
But with clenched teeth and legs barely functioning, Hudson-Smith made it across the line in first place, to the delight of the large partisan support.
"I knew it was going to take one hell of an effort to get past me," Hudson-Smith said.
"I knew the Dutch guy had the personal best to beat me, so I was trying to conserve rounds."
After being handed a Union Jack, Hudson-Smith stopped during his lap of honour to run into the stand named after him to touch the banner bearing his name.
"That was spur of the moment," he said
"I know this track like the back of my hand. I have my stand. Now I'm going to go for Mayor of Birmingham and Wolverhampton.
"All my boys are going to have a job when I am done!"
Hudson-Smith specified, however, that the revamped Alexander Stadium had changed from the days when he used to train as a youngster.
"Compared to the old club room, this is shiny, this is brand new," he said.
"I wouldn't say it was run down, but it just didn't look as shiny as it does.
"I grew up here, and this is my home, so it's just amazing to see the changes, the development."
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