Renaud Lavillenie led the way as Europe enjoyed a superb start to the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland.
The French pole vaulter regained the title he won in 2012, and he did so in style with a championship record of 6.02m to beat American Sam Kendricks (5.80m) who finished ahead of Poland's Piotr Lisek (on countback at 5.75m).
As Americans Jennifer Suhr (4.90m) won gold and Sandi Morris (4.85m) took silver, there was European success in bronze with Greece's Ekaterini Stefanidi confirming her fine winter form as she went over at 4.80m.
It gave her third place on countback from Switzerland's Nicole Büchler who had another fantastic moment in her great indoor season as she broke the national record for the fifth time in 2016.
But it's bronze for Ekaterini Stefanidi!
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) March 18, 2016
The first of many European medals in #Portland2016, we hope. :) pic.twitter.com/7Uxn8aOLBt
Lavillenie's triumph means it is now 10 major gold medals for this brilliant Frenchman who will head towards the summer chasing more glory and it could be a good omen.
When he lifted this title in Istanbul 2012, he progressed to win the European Athletics Championships in Helsinki before taking his first Olympic gold in London.
He had secured victory with 5.90m before going over first time at 6.02m. He then attempted breaking his own world record (6.16m) but missed out at 6.17m.
On his second vault at that height, Lavillenie landed between the pads and as he said afterwards: 'It's not so often that I do something like that.'
He was smiling.
Lavillenie also had three attempts at a WR of 6.17m.
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) March 18, 2016
He suffered a nasty landing on his second try but he was okay! pic.twitter.com/lDXGIzaRVk
But his victory showed that even when he is knocked down - he was third at last year's world championships in Beijing behind Canada's Shawnacy Barber (who tied here for fourth after clearing 5.75m) - he is never out.
Lavillenie opened at 5.75m and saw Kendricks go in front with 5.80m yet he never panicked. He skipped 5.80m and 5.85m himself before then securing top spot with 5.90m.
Yes athletics has issues,but is still THE greatest sport,with power 2 grab attention of world leaders @airlavillenie https://t.co/72js0RDs9f
— Svein Arne Hansen (@SvenPres) March 18, 2016
Stefanidi's success makes it her third podium in 19 months and puts her in the frame for a medal at the two major summer events.
The European silver medallist indoors and out once more demonstrated her championship ability and she led the competition as the first to go over at 4.75m.
Then Büchler was ahead as she increased her national record from 4.75m to 4.80m but could not go any further. Yet she, too, should be among the medals at the Amsterdam 2016 European Athletics Championships in July.
Today in Portland, the championships have a full day of action. The first individual track event will see the appearance of the Czech Republic's defending 400m champion Pavel Maslak.
He runs in the fifth heat as he looks to maintain his astonishing championship record at this distance - in the last three years, he has become European indoor champion twice (in Gothenburg 2013 and Prague 12 months ago) and world indoor champion (in Sopot 2014).