ON Tuesday, I had just about given up hope of getting tickets for London 2012.

Fast forward 48 hours and I had a second-row seat to watch Usain Bolt become the first man in history to complete the 100m and 200m double at back-to-back Olympics.

A last roll of the online ticket system dice incredibly paid off big-time to provide an iconic night of live sport that I will never forget.

To be within touching distance of arguably the most famous sportsman on the planet was simply surreal.

Bolt was the undoubted highlight but there was also the fastest ever 800m, won in a new world record time by Kenya’s David Rudisha, with Team GB’s Andrew Osagie setting a new personal best despite finishing last.

Then there was the conclusion of the men’s decathlon and the finals of both the women’s javelin and men’s triple jump, including the horrific moment when Leevan Sands’ knee buckled underneath him. I could go on.

Walking into the stadium itself was mind-blowing. I was gobsmacked at where my seat was and the giddy excitement was palpabale as myself and everyone around realised that Bolt and co would be running their 200m bend directly in front of us.

Having already witnessed Rudisha’s 800m, we were warmed up for the main event and boy, was it worth the wait.

The atmosphere was something else. The deathly silence that descended before the starting gun went off was then shattered by a cacophany of 80,000 screaming fans. The place went berserk for 19.32 seconds.

We had to rely on the big screen to see Bolt cross the line but that’s a small price to pay to say, “I was there”.

Adrenalin pumping through our veins, we all waited for the Jamaican one-two-three of Bolt, Yohan Blake and Warren Weir to pose for pictures on their lap of honour.

I don’t think anyone could believe what we were seeing. I’m still pinching myself now.

Everyone was also so friendly, wanting to share the moment with each other, nothing like the hostility of a football crowd I am used to in the day job.

It was tough to drag myself away from the stadium afterwards – I just wanted to keep looking back inside.

The 25-minute walk back to the bus was almost done in a daze and I finally slumped into bed at 2am. What a day!