Amy Hunt admitted she had become "fed up" with collecting silver medals after finally striking gold at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.
The 24-year-old produced a superb finish to win the women's 100m final in exactly 11 seconds, securing the first individual senior international title of her career.
Hunt had been forced to settle for second place on some of the biggest stages in athletics over the past year.
She announced herself as one of Britain's brightest sprinting talents by taking 200m silver at the World Championships in Tokyo last year, which represented her first individual international medal at senior level.
Another silver followed in the 100m at the Commonwealth Games just two weeks before the European Championships.
But Hunt was determined to ensure there would be no repeat in Birmingham as she powered to victory in front of a jubilant home crowd.
"I have had such a string of silvers and I was starting to get a bit fed up with it, so I thought it was time for gold," she told the BBC.
Her triumph was made even more poignant by a gesture from her parents before the race.
Hunt revealed they had bought her a pair of gold earrings in the hope they would provide some inspiration, with the British star normally preferring to wear silver jewellery.
"My parents gifted me these gold earrings to finally level up, because I wear all-silver jewellery," she explained.
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"They said it was time for gold - they left me that note two nights ago - so it made me quite emotional.
"It was definitely time for me to come of age here."
Hunt entered the European Championships with confidence soaring after breaking the 11-second barrier for the first time earlier this season.
And she delivered when it mattered most to end her wait for a major individual gold medal.
The victory also ensured Britain had plenty to celebrate on the opening day of competition in Birmingham.
Hunt's gold came after the hosts had earlier secured silver in the mixed 4x400m relay.
Ben Jefferies, Charlotte Henrich, Toby Harries and Yemi Mary John combined to clock three minutes 10.47 seconds, with Norway taking the European title in 3:09.62.
John was forced to battle hard down the home straight as she held off the Netherlands' Myrte van der Schoot to secure Britain's place on the podium.
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