Adam Ramsay-Peaty becomes the latest to face the latter situation on Saturday – in the 100m breaststroke final at Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games, shortly after 21:00 BST.
The greatest breaststroker the world has seen is on his own journey – one which he hopes ends with a third individual gold at the Los Angeles Olympics in two years’ time.
Manoeuvring into his slipstream is 18-year-old Filip Nowacki.
Master meet apprentice.
Not only has Nowacki started to pick off Ramsay-Peaty’s age-group records, he is part of the 31-year-old’s AP Race stable – the programme set up to develop the next generation.
Ramsay-Peaty has spoken of wanting to mentor and pass on advice to his young pretender. Last year, Nowacki repaid him by breaking his 100m breaststroke junior British record.
Ramsay-Peaty, who is chasing a 33rd major gold of a glittering career, appeared in no mood to hand over the baton in Friday’s semi-finals.
There is uncertainty around a broken finger suffered in June but, side by side in lanes four and five, Ramsay-Peaty built an early lead and held off the youngster in the second length. Nowacki was close but never quite close enough.
“I saw his front wave, but at the same time that is what I train for,” Ramsay-Peaty said.
“I know I am a sprinter. I know I can go out fast.”
Nowacki, who competes for Jersey here having learned to swim under the tutelage of Nathan Jegou on the Channel Island, is arguably best in the 200m event – a distance Ramsay-Peaty does not race.
In this shorter contest, it is the youngster who should stay stronger for longer.
And when they spoke afterwards alongside each other, Ramsay-Peaty, all chest and tattooed muscle, towered over his young rival – so much so you would be forgiven for thinking the pair compete in different sports.
Nowacki appeared wary of Ramsay-Peaty but there is a cheeky confidence within.
“Course I do,” he laughed when asked if he believes he can win.
“No, I wish, I’m gonna give it my best shot” was his quick addition.
Nowacki was not long out of armbands when Ramsay-Peaty won gold in this same pool at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
That was his emergence on to the global stage and two years later the Englishman won his first Olympic title in Rio de Janeiro. Nowacki was only eight years old.
“Adam is a true role model in the sport,” Nowacki said.
“I grew up watching him race at Rio, Tokyo and Paris.
“To race him and not be a random competitor but give him a race is special to me.”
The pair should compete as Team GB team-mates in LA but are also racing for their own personal ambitions on Saturday.
Despite winning an emotional silver at the Olympics in Paris two years ago, Ramsay-Peaty has not stood atop a major podium since the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022.
In that meet he won the 50m crown but lost his 100m title to James Wilby. A “self-destructive spiral” amid issues with his mental health, which led to him considering his future in the sport, soon followed.
If Nowacki wins a medal it would be Jersey’s first at the Commonwealth Games for 36 years. They have only ever won one gold medal.
Australia’s Sam Williamson, who won the first semi-final, will also have something to say.
“It is going to be a good scrap, especially down that last 25m, and I do love a good scrap,” Ramsay-Peaty said.
He would never go quietly.