The Jewel in the Crown restaurant in Shirley High Street will always hold a special place in Iwan Thomas's heart.

He was out having a meal with friends on Friday night when his mobile phone went and the voice of UK Athletics' performance director Max Jones broke the news he had been waiting for.

After a tense 48-hour wait, Netley's 27-year-old European and Commonwealth 400 metres champion had achieved the impossible dream of an individual berth in the IAAF World Championships which begin in Edmonton, Canada this weekend.

"I couldn't believe it," said Thomas. "I was just sitting there when the phone went and there was Max, in his usual business-like self, telling me that he had spoken to the IAAF (International Amateur Athletic Federation) and that my entry had been accepted. He just said well done and he'd see me in Canada. I was absolutely stunned."

When it comes to triumphing in the face of adversity, Thomas's tale takes some beating.

After two heartbreaking years dogged by ankle and hamstring trouble, he had earmarked 2001 as his big comeback year on the global stage.

But the lights looked to have gone out at Crystal Palace last Sunday when, in what his last official chance to net the 45.72 qualifying time for Edmonton, he got his race tactics all wrong and finished a tenth of second outside.

When the British team was finalised on Monday, Thomas's name appeared only in the 4x400m relay squad. The individual places went to Mark Richardson, Daniel Caines and fellow Welshman Jamie Baulch who, though way slower than Thomas this season, was accepted on last year's time.

Determined to prove he was not about to become yesterday's man, Thomas and his coach Mike Smith hastily organised a men's 400 metres at last Wednesday's British Milers' Club meeting at Watford.

Aided by friends and training partners like Robert Lewis, Danny Jackson and Simon Ciaravella, he ran his heart out to win in 45.70 seconds, having only learned on his way to the race that Caines had pulled out of the British team with a bruised fibula.

With the World Championship entry deadline having already passed at Tuesday midnight, Thomas faced an anxious wait to see if the IAAF would bend their rules to allow him to compete in Caines's place.

He said: "Mike (Smith) was always confident they'd let me in, but I honestly didn't know what to think. On the one hand there were some IAAF people saying positive things, but then I read a quote from Max Jones on Ceefax suggesting he wasn't too hopeful.

"I feel honoured that the IAAF have gone back on the rules for me and, make no mistake, I'm going to relish this opportunity.

"I owe a massive debt of gratitude to my training group and all those people who have stayed patient with me over these last couple of years.

"As anyone who is close to me knows, I haven't had an easy time of it. As well as the injury troubles, a couple of close friends have died.

"I feel I've been through so much and I just hope that this is a sign that things are about to change for me.

"It would have been easy to have sat and felt sorry for myself after Crystal Palace, but I took the opportunity by the scruff of the neck and organised the race at Watford. Now at least I've got to Canada and given myself this chance.

"I may not be in the shape to win, but then you never know. Look at Goran Ivanisevic. He only got into Wimbledon as a wildcard and went on the win it.

"After so much rubbish in my life, this is just the change of luck I needed."